Scottish Radiotherapy Patient Experience Survey 2014: National Results: Volume 1

9 RESULTS: FOLLOWING TREATMENT

Summary

9.1 Whilst many patients said that they were given a range of information and advice following treatment, there are significant numbers of patients for whom this needs to be improved. Most patients said that they were given a number to call to see if they had any problems following treatment, but a proportion (13%) said that they weren't. 15% of patients said that they didn't know what the arrangements were for their next visit. And 44% of patients said that they were not given written information about what to expect in the weeks following treatment.

Detailed results

9.2 This section asked patients about what happened after their treatment had finished. Questions included: whether or not they were given a number to call if they had any concerns; if they knew the arrangements for their next visit; and whether or not they were given written information on what to expect following their treatment. The results are summarised in table 7 below:

Table 7 Summary of the results to questions about following treatment

Note: percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

9.3 There were some positive results here, for example:

• 87% of patients said that they were given a number to call if they had any problems in relation to their radiotherapy. There were a number of patients who weren't given the number however (13%)
• 85% of patients said that they knew the arrangements for their next visit. However again, a number (15%) said that they didn't know this.

9.4 Patients were less positive about written information on finishing their treatment:

• Only 56% said that they were given written information about what to expect in the few weeks following treatment and their post treatment care. A significant number (44%) said that they weren't; and 3% said that they couldn't remember (chart 10).

Chart 10 Information about what to expect in the few weeks following treatment and post treatment care (%)

Variation between centres

9.5 Across the five radiotherapy centres, there was some variation on questions about information and advice following treatment:

• Information about what to expect in the few weeks following treatment and post treatment care - scores ranged from 37% to 94% positive, with Dundee Cancer Centre doing particularly well.
• Given a number to call if any problems - scores ranged from 63% to 100% positive, with Dundee Cancer Centre doing particularly well.
• Arrangements for next visit - scores ranged from 82% to 91% positive, with Dundee Cancer Centre doing particularly well.