The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42658

Régis Blais, PhD, Christine Loignon, MSc, Marie-Pierre Moreault, MSc, François Champagne, PhD, and Nicole Leduc, PhD. GRIS, University of Montreal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada, (514) 343-5907, regis.blais@umontreal.ca

Facing financial constraints, hospitals have considerably reduced postoperative length of stay (LOS). For breast cancer surgery patients, reduced LOS and the lack of follow-up can lead to complications and possible decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact on patient satisfaction and quality of life of a case management approach vs. regular care for breast cancer surgery. Patients ("intervention group") scheduled for breast cancer surgery in a large hospital near Montreal, Canada were enrolled in a case management program (n=54): they received detailed preoperative information and were systematically followed up after surgery. Patients in the first "control group" (n=24) were operated in the same hospital but had regular care (i.e. no case management). Patients in the second "control group" (n=30) were operated in another hospital and also had regular care. Satisfaction with care and quality of life (QoL) of all three groups were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire sent 2-3 weeks after surgery. Satisfaction was measured using a series of close questions covering a wide range of aspects of care. The QoL was measured with the use of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results show that compared to the control groups, patients in the intervention group were more satisfied with several aspects of the care they received. However, there were few differences between groups in QoL. This study tends to show that a case management approach for breast cancer surgery can have a positive impact on patients. Reduced LOS without sufficient postoperative follow-up should be avoided.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the main components of a case management approach for breast cancer surgery patients;
• Describe the aspects of care for which patients in the case management group were more satisfied than those receiving regular care;
• Describe the differences in quality of life between the case management group and the regular care group.

Keywords: Case Management, Breast Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.