Patients prefer chemotherapy on the same day as their medical oncology outpatient appointment

Abstract

Purpose: Numerous oncology units have separated outpatient appointments and chemotherapy delivery to another day (TOD) to improve efficiency. This survey assessed patient preferences for scheduling medical oncology outpatient appointments and chemotherapy delivery for either treatment delivered on the same day as the outpatient appointment (TSD) or TOD.

Patients and methods: Patients (N = 198) from two major metropolitan tertiary centers in Perth-Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (n = 110) and Royal Perth Hospital (n = 88)-completed surveys from April 15 to May 24, 2013. Eligibility criteria included any adult patient with cancer receiving an intravenous chemotherapy or targeted agent who had completed ≥ two cycles of treatment or attended ≥ two chemotherapy appointments on a concurrent chemoradiotherapy program.

Results: The majority of patients preferred TSD (85%) versus TOD. Convenience (50%) and distance or difficulty in transportation to hospital (25%) were the most common reasons for TSD preference. Current treatment schedule (odds ratio [OR], 59.2; 95% CI, 18.7 to 265.2) was significantly associated with treatment schedule preference. Younger age (58.3 v 65.2 years; P = .01) and presence of household dependents (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 27.1) were also associated with TSD preference. Scheduling preference was not influenced by time prepared to wait for chemotherapy (χ(2) (2) = 3.86; P = .14), with 44% and 39% of patients willing to wait up to 60 and 120 minutes, respectively. Almost all patients preferred chemotherapy delivery before 2 pm (99%).

Conclusion: Patients preferred to receive chemotherapy on the same day as their medical oncology outpatient appointment. Morning delivery of chemotherapy was preferred. Meeting patients' expectations will present significant challenges to efficient service provision as caseloads increase.