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Patient satisfaction and quality of life in cancer outpatients: results of the PASQOC* study

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Abstract

Background

Satisfaction with care and quality of life (QoL) are indicative of the quality of care of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to lay a cornerstone for patient-centred quality management by assessing the current status of satisfaction with care and QoL among oncological outpatients in Germany, and by identifying the key factors that determine a patient’s willingness to recommend a medical facility.

Patients and methods

A self-constructed and validated patient satisfaction questionnaire plus the SF-36 were distributed to a random sample of 3384 cancer patients who presented at 24 investigators’ offices nationwide within a defined recruiting period and who met the inclusion criteria. The return rate was 81.9% (n=2772). A total of 2659 (78.6%) questionnaires were evaluable. The most common cancer types were breast (22.9%) and intestine (19.8%).

Results

Overall satisfaction was high, but specific reporting questions revealed many areas for improvement such as shared decision making, doctor-patient communication and organization of care. QoL was significantly impaired in many domains. Patient-provider relationship, facility setting and information on diagnosis and treatment options are major determinants of a patient’s willingness to recommend a facility to a friend or relative if needed.

Conclusions

This multicentre study focusing on patient perspectives highlights that, although the overall degree of satisfaction was quite high, there are numerous areas for improvement.

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Acknowledgements

We dedicate this publication to all the patients and their relatives who showed us how important it was for them to support the study. Special thanks go to Dr. Sabine Tews (GlaxoSmithKline Germany) for her valuable input and the tireless support of the PASQOC study. The authors would also like to thank Dieter Schulenberg (German Cancer Society) and Dipl.-Soz. Wolfgang Guenther (Picker Institut Deutschland) for their unconditional support. Funding for the PASQOC study was provided by GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hämatologisch-onkologische Praxis Altona (HOPA), 22765, Hamburg, Germany

    U. R. Kleeberg

  2. GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, 80339, Munich, Germany

    J.-T. Tews

  3. Picker Institut Deutschland gGmbH, 22769, Hamburg, Germany

    T. Ruprecht

  4. Oncology Nursing Group of the German Cancer Society, Frankfurt, Germany

    M. Höing & A. Kuhlmann

  5. Corporate Affairs and Business Support, Department of Health Economics, GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, 80339, Munich, Germany

    C. Runge

Authors
  1. U. R. Kleeberg
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  2. J.-T. Tews
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  3. T. Ruprecht
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  4. M. Höing
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  5. A. Kuhlmann
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  6. C. Runge
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Runge.

Additional information

PAtient Satisfaction and Quality of life in Oncological Care

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Kleeberg, U.R., Tews, JT., Ruprecht, T. et al. Patient satisfaction and quality of life in cancer outpatients: results of the PASQOC* study. Support Care Cancer 13, 303–310 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0727-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0727-x

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