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Annals of Oncology Advance Access originally published online on June 4, 2009
Annals of Oncology 2009 20(10):1708-1713; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdp044
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

quality of life supportive care

Medical oncology patients’ preferences with regard to health care: development of a patient-driven questionnaire

H. Wessels1,2, A. de Graeff1, K. Wynia3, H. J. Sixma4, M. de Heus2, M. Schipper5, G. T. G. J. Woltjer6, S. C. C. M. Teunissen1 and E. E. Voest1,*

1 Department of Medical Oncology
2 Department of Corporate Communications, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan, Utrecht
3 Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein, Groningen
4 NIVEL—Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat
5 Department of Biostatistics, University of Utrecht, Padualaan
6 Integraal Kankercentrum Midden Nederland, Catharijnesingel, Utrecht, The Netherlands

* Correspondence to: Dr. E. E. Voest, Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-88-7556265; Fax: +31-88-2523741; E-mail: e.e.voest{at}umcutrecht.nl

Background: To improve quality of care for cancer patients, it is important to have an insight on the patient's view on health care and on their specific wishes, needs and preferences, without restriction and without influence of researchers and health care providers. The aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire assessing medical oncology patients’ preferences for health care based on their own input.

Patients and methods: Items were generated using 10 focus group interviews with 51 cancer patients. A preliminary questionnaire was handed out to 681 patients of seven Dutch departments of medical oncology. Explorative factor analysis was carried out on the 386 returned questionnaires (response 57%).

Results: Focus group interviews resulted in a preliminary questionnaire containing 136 items. Explorative factor analysis resulted in a definitive questionnaire containing 123 items (21 scales and eight single items). Patients rated expertise, safety, performance and attitude of physicians and nurses as the most important issues in cancer care.

Conclusion: This questionnaire may be used to assess preferences of cancer patients and to come to a tailored approach of health care that meets patients’ wishes and needs.

Key words: focus groups, patient-centred care, patient preferences, quality of care, questionnaire

Received for publication August 7, 2008. Revision received November 18, 2008. Accepted for publication February 3, 2009.


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