Specialised care should be provided to patients with genetic cancer

Patients with genetic cancer undergoing surveillance at a specialized clinic rate the quality of their care better than patients at non-specialized clinics, reports the latest issue of the Scandanavian Journal of Gastroenterology.

Dr Kaisa Fritzell and colleagues from Sweden compared ratings of quality of care between patients with genetic cancer who receive specialized care with patients who receive non-specialized care while controlling for socio-demographic and clinical variables.

All patients in a national cohort of adult patients diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis who had undergone prophylactic colorectal surgery were assessed.

Patients receiving specialized care were more likely to report the quality of care as better

Scandanavian Journal of Gastroenterology

Quality of care was measured with the Quality of Care from the Patient Perspective.

The team observed that patients receiving specialized care were significantly more likely to report the quality of care as better in all 3 QPP dimensions investigated than those receiving non-specialized care.

Dr Fritzell's team concludes, "In order to promote and maintain good quality of care for surgically treated patients with FAP, and to minimize the risk of cancer, specialized care, including continuity and easy access of health care professionals, should be provided."