Thomas S, Glynne-Jones R, Chait I
Health Research Centre, Middlesex University, Enfield, UK.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 1997 Mar;6(1):50-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.1997.tb00269.x.
Increasing numbers of cancer survivors and the tradition of long-term follow-up in the outpatient clinic has resulted in overcrowded oncology clinics and long waiting times. Little is known about patients' perceptions of their clinic attendance. This survey of 252 oncology patients investigated patients' satisfaction with the clinic, anxiety associated with clinic attendance and the strengths and weaknesses of the oncology service. Results demonstrated high levels of satisfaction. Far from being perceived as anxiety-provoking, the clinic was looked upon as a valuable source of reassurance, 92% of patients reporting they were 'always' or 'usually' reassured as a consequence of their visit. Qualitative data showed that clinic staff were the most important source of satisfaction. Waiting was overwhelmingly the worst aspect of the clinic, described by 27% of patients as 'excessively long'. One-fifth of the total sample had attended the clinic for 10 years or more and over a third of this group reported they would be worried at the prospect of being discharged to the care of their general practitioners. Despite disadvantages associated with long waits, the clinic was perceived as providing a valuable source of reassurance which a proportion of patients were clearly reluctant to be without.
癌症幸存者人数不断增加，加上门诊长期随访的传统，导致肿瘤门诊人满为患，候诊时间漫长。对于患者对前往门诊就诊的看法，人们了解甚少。这项针对252名肿瘤患者的调查研究了患者对门诊的满意度、与就诊相关的焦虑以及肿瘤服务的优缺点。结果显示患者满意度较高。门诊远非被视为引发焦虑的地方，而是被看作是一个宝贵的安心来源，92%的患者表示他们就诊后“总是”或“通常”会感到安心。定性数据表明，门诊工作人员是满意度的最重要来源。候诊无疑是门诊最糟糕的方面，27%的患者称其“过长”。总样本中有五分之一的患者在该门诊就诊达10年或更长时间，且这一群体中有三分之一以上的人表示，若被转至全科医生处接受治疗，他们会感到担忧。尽管长时间候诊存在弊端，但门诊被视为提供了一个宝贵的安心来源，一部分患者显然不愿失去它。
