Authors: (including presenting author): :
Wong ST(1), Wong CKL(2)
Affiliation: :
(1) Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, (2) Cancer Patient Resource Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Hospital to Community
Keyword 2: :
Breast Cancer Survivors
Keyword 3: :
District Heatlh Centre
Introduction: :
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in Hong Kong since 1994. With early detection and various adjuvant treatment modalities such as systemic anticancer therapies or radiotherapy to minimize risk of recurrence, many non-metastatic breast cancer patients can have prolonged disease-free survival. However, these breast cancer survivors may suffer from long term side effects of these therapies such as pain or fatigue. In addition, even after completion of adjuvant treatment, psychosocial issues such as depression or social isolation still adversely affect the quality of life of the breast cancer survivors.
Objectives: :
To empower breast cancer survivors by enhancing self-care strategies on managing long term treatment-related side effects. To bring the breast cancer survivors to continue their rehabilitation journey from hospital to community. To build a sustainable collaborative network with community partners to meet needs of breast cancer survivors during their rehabilitation.
Methodology: :
The program was co-organized by Department of Clinical Oncology & Cancer Patient Resource Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Yau Tsim Mong & Kowloon City District Health Centre Express. There were six sessions, 1.5 hour per session, with sharing of information on symptom management, nutritional issues, sleep hygiene, physical exercise, bone health, abstinence of risk factors, medication safety and introduction of community resource for health care. Specialty nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and pharmacists were the involved speakers and facilitators. Some of the sessions were organized in DHCE to lead the move of the participants from hospital to community. In addition, visit to community pharmacy was also arranged. Breast cancer survivors who had finished their adjuvant chemotherapy/ targeted therapy/ radiotherapy were invited to join the program. Cancer Survivor Physical Psychosocial Self Assessment Questionnaire adapted from Hong Kong Jockey Club Cancer Survivorship Care Project was used to collect data on physical, emotional & social well-beings of the participants before and after the program. Their understanding of various community cancer-related health resource was also assessed.
Result & Outcome: :
Result
Ten breast cancer survivors, 48-71 year-old, had attended all the six sessions & completed the questionnaires. After eight week time, there were significant improvement in the following aspects: Physical: pain, fatigue ;Psychosocial: feel depressed or frustrated, avoid social activities There were no significant change in mental concentration, anxiety level or family/marital problems related to cancer and its treatment. In addition, there was also a significant enhancement on the understanding of available community resource that the participants can make use for adaptation. Conclusion This was a small scale pilot program for facilitation of cancer survivors to move forward from hospital to the community. Although the sample size is small, the result is encouraging as it revealed a significant improvement on pain & fatigue of the participants. Moreover, there was enhancement of understanding on available community health resources for the survivors. Recommendation With the promotion of utilization of community health care services, more similar cancer survivor programs can be introduced to other cancer diseases with long survival time. Not only improve the health outcomes of the survivors, these programs can also facilitate the coordination and collaboration between hospital & community healthcare providers for optimal utilization of available healthcare resource.
