Shared-care survivorship program for testicular cancer patients: safe and feasible.
ESMO Open
; 7(3): 100488, 2022 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35576694
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Testicular cancer survivors are at risk for cardiovascular disease, often preceded by early development of cardiovascular risk factors due to chemotherapeutic treatment. Therefore, close collaboration between oncologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) is needed during follow-up to monitor and manage cardiovascular risk factors. We designed a shared-care survivorship program, in which testicular cancer patients visit both their oncologist and their PCP. The objective of this study was to test the safety and feasibility of shared-care follow-up after treatment for metastatic testicular cancer. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
The study was designed as an observational cohort study with a stopping rule to check for the safety of follow-up. Safety boundaries were defined for failures in the detection of signals indicating cancer recurrence. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of carried out cardiovascular risk assessments, psychosocial status and patient preferences measured with an evaluation questionnaire.RESULTS:
One hundred and sixty-two patients were enrolled (69% of eligible testicular cancer patients). Almost all (99%, n = 150) PCPs of the enrolled patients agreed to participate in the study. In total, 364 primary care visits took place. No failures occurred in the detection of relapsed testicular cancer. Four follow-up visits were considered as failures because of organizational issues, without activation of the stopping rule. Eventually, the safe boundary was crossed indicating that this shared-care model is a safe alternative for follow-up after testicular cancer. Patients were satisfied with the knowledge level of PCPs. PCPs were willing to further extend their role in follow-up care after cancer.CONCLUSIONS:
Shared-care follow-up is safe and feasible in this patient population. Patients benefit from personalized care, partly close to their home. Within shared care, PCPs can have an important role in cardiovascular risk management and psychosocial survivorship issues.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Equipe de Assistência ao Paciente
/
Neoplasias Testiculares
/
Médicos de Atenção Primária
/
Segurança do Paciente
/
Oncologistas
/
Sobrevivência
/
Sobreviventes de Câncer
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
ESMO Open
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Holanda