[The Bochum aftercare questionnaire for cancer in otorhinolaryngology: first results of clinical application].

BACKGROUND

The damage caused by cancer disease is multidimensional, affecting a patient physically, emotionally, and intellectually. A post-cancer documentation system is necessary that takes into account a patient's psychosocial well-being. With this objective in mind, the aftercare journal was developed for tumor diseases in otorhinolaryngology in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Ruhr University Bochum.

METHODOLOGY AND PATIENTS

From April 2002 to May 2003, 112 patients received a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the aftercare journal newly introduced in Germany for ENT tumor diseases. Six items were presented: outer appearance, format/size of the journal, clarity in the design, recording areas relevant to the disease, improvement in the tumor aftercare, and personal feeling of safety. An evaluation scale of zero to four points served as the basis for assessment. A high point value represented the higher degree of patient satisfaction for each respective item.

RESULTS

In all six items, the assessment of the journal predominantly showed agreement of the patients. Assessing the improvement in tumor aftercare and providing a personal feeling of safety, patients with shorter disease remission had a tendency to allocate low point values.

CONCLUSION

The aftercare journal for ENT sets the trend for documentation systems in cancer aftercare. The study proved the need to consider concerns of the disease related to medical and psychosomatic factors in patients as a standard for modern psychosocial oncology.