Development and evaluation of a holistic surgical head and neck cancer post‐treatment follow‐up clinic using touchscreen technology—Feasibility study

The efficacy of traditional follow‐up care is being challenged, as cancer survivors' supportive and psychological needs are often neither identified, nor addressed. This study's aim was to develop a holistic surgical follow‐up clinic for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients were participants completed a disease‐specific health‐related quality of life tool (UWQOLv4) and item prompt list (Patient Concern Inventory) on a touchscreen computer. Information generated was used to focus the consultation on patient's identified needs and concerns. By means of a prospective non‐randomised, pre‐test post‐test design, this follow‐up clinic was evaluated using the patient enablement instrument (PEI) and patient content checklist (PCC). Feasibility was explored from the patient perspective (satisfaction survey) and clinician perspective (qualitative interview). Forty‐four consecutive patients were recruited. Findings demonstrating five of the eight topics (overall QOL, emotions, head and neck symptoms, side‐effects of treatment, chronic non‐specific) on PCC were discussed more frequently, but changes were not statistically significant. The PEI highlighted a trend towards perceived improvement in four of the six items. Using touchscreen computers to aid communication during routine follow‐up was reported as both feasible and beneficial by patients and clinicians. Providing a patient‐focused follow‐up consultation can facilitate the identification of unmet needs, permitting timely and appropriate intervention being initiated.