[French national survey on incoming phone calls in oncology departments].

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[French national survey on incoming phone calls in oncology departments].

Bull Cancer. 2017 Apr 06;:

Authors: Joly F, Guillot A, Vano YA, Spaeth D, Topart D, Roffet P, El Amarti R, Hasbini A, Fléchon A

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Oral therapies have shifted the follow-up of patients with cancer from hospital to home. As a consequence, the number of incoming calls has increased. To understand the source, reasons, management and burden of calls, we underwent a French national survey. The objective was to describe the way calls are managed in oncology departments.
METHODS: The study was a prospective survey in a representative sample of French oncology specialists using oral therapies.
RESULTS: Among 51 participating onco/radiotherapy departments, 86 % of specialists were oncologists or hematologists and 14 % radiation oncologists. Eighty percent were from public centers and 20 % from private ones. The median number of calls/week was 110. Sixty-six percent of calls were from patients and families and 23 % from general practitioners. Upon calls reception by the secretaries, half of them corresponded to a medical question. Sixty-five percent of centers did not have an established specific procedure and 70 % of responders did not specifically train their teams to address the management of calls. Sixty-five percent of the specialists spent more than 30min/day. Most of them considered it disturbing medical activities. Sixty-six percent of patients calls were related to adverse effects of treatments. Twenty-two percent of specialists declared at least one severe adverse effect linked to misinterpretation of a call.
DISCUSSION: With the increase of oral therapies, incoming phone calls represent an important burden of work. To improve calls management, adaptations of organizations are needed.

PMID: 28391984 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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