Background
Assessing cancer patients’ experiences of care can help identify where efforts are needed to improve care quality. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) commissioned a program of work to develop a methodology that could be used throughout Victoria to assess care experiences.
Aim
To develop and test a survey and methodology for identifying cancer patients’ experiences of care for reporting at health service and state-wide levels.
Method
Two pilot studies (PS) were conducted: PS1 involved 1 metropolitan and 2 regional health services; PS2 involves 3 metropolitan and 3 regional health services. In both studies, patients treated for cancer at participating health services were identified through the Victorian Admitted Episodes Database. In PS1 the health service invited survey participation. In PS2, patients will be randomly allocated to be approached by either their health service or the DHHS.
Results
PS1: 509 patients participated (45% response rate) and 69% had all treatment at the recruiting health service. Patients were generally very satisfied with surgical (77%), radiotherapy (83%) and chemotherapy (81%) care. Opportunities for care improvements were identified with: 21% of those experiencing post-surgical side-effects reporting these were not well managed, 20% rating arrangements for services at home inadequate, 36% not receiving enough information on long-term side effects and 29% of patients attending an Emergency Department reporting staff did not manage their condition well.
PS2: Patients in PS2 will receive a survey revised on PS1’s findings. 600 patients from metropolitan, and 350 from regional, health services will be approached. We will present on care experiences, and on the impact of the approach organisation on response rates.
Conclusion
The survey and methodology developed in these pilot studies will be a valuable tool to capture data on cancer patients’ care experiences for reporting at health service and state-wide levels.