How well Informed are Cancer Patients Prior to a Life Cycle of Injectable Chemotherapy Drug Treatment?

Cancer patient dissatisfaction, due to a long waiting time for chemotherapy treatment, is a common complaint. To improve patient satisfaction, our pharmaceutical team was prompted to design a series of information tools for injectable chemotherapy drug treatment (ICDT) patients. This study was based on French Health Authorities recommendations. All three stages were monitored: the preparation stage using a 204 patient survey, the design stage, and the assessment stage with a 12 point questionnaire patient evaluation. An information brochure and a 10-min film were designed which chronologically described key stages in the life cycle of ICDT. Both tools were assessed by 29 and 84 patients respectively. The questionnaire confirmed that this approach met the needs of more than 90 % of patients. The brochure and the film also accurately met the objectives and improved the understanding of the chemotherapy long waiting time which resulted in higher patient satisfaction. The designed tools will continue to evolve with changes in oncology practices based on various indicators defined in the study. Our study proposes an original method to assist health professionals to better inform cancer patients regarding the preparation of ICDT. It is also a part of a continuous quality program to assure quality outpatient healthcare.