Breast Cancer Patients' Satisfaction with a Spontaneous System of Check-up Visits to a Specialist Nurse

Aim: To describe breast cancer patients' satisfaction with a spontaneous system of check-up visits to a specialist nurse.

Background: There is little evidence that routine follow-up visits after breast cancer surgery influence survival or patient satisfaction. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate alternative follow-up programmes.

Sample: A strategic sample of 19 breast cancer patients, who were not involved in a routine follow-up system but who had the possibility of contacting a specialist nurse when necessary, were interviewed.

Method: A qualitative descriptive design inspired by the method of phenomenographic analysis was used.

Findings: Five description categories and 606 statements showing similarities and differences in conceptions were obtained. The patients satisfaction with the knowledgeable and professional skills of the nurses was high. Confirmation and trust were important and necessary in order for the women with breast cancer to feel secure. Patients had a need for information and self-care education. Accessibility and early assessment by professional personnel or an oncology nurse were essential in a system without routine follow-ups.

Discussion: This study identifies key issues in a specialist nurse-led check-up system. The findings can be used for developing an education programme for women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. Additionally, the findings emphasize the need to introduce more flexible solutions to the follow-up programmes, one alternative being specialist nurse-led check-ups.