A literature review of the potential of telephone follow-up in colorectal cancer

Aims.  The aim of this review is to examine the potential of telephone follow-up for patients with colorectal cancer.

Background.  More people are surviving cancer and entering into follow-up care. It is recognised that improvements in cancer follow-up care are needed in the UK. Telephone use has proved a very successful medium for conducting health care in other specialties and may offer an acceptable alternative to face-to-face follow-up appointments. Nurse specialists could assume responsibility for patients’ follow-up by offering telephone consultations.

Design.  A literature review was conducted via a systematic electronic and hand search of relevant literature.

Method.  Thematic content analysis was used to achieve the objectives of the review.

Results.  The findings demonstrate that telephone follow-up conducted by an experienced nurse specialist is cost-effective and accepted by the majority of patients. Aspects of care such as symptom management and reassurance are possible over the phone.

Conclusion.  Telephone follow-up meets patients’ satisfaction, support and information needs and has potential to deliver high standards of aftercare when conducted by a nurse specialist. It is at least equivalent to traditional follow-up in meeting the needs of patients with cancer. Because of the disparity of the studies examined, further research in the area of nurse-led telephone follow-up vs. nurse-led traditional follow-up would be constructive in the development of this new initiative.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses are now increasingly involved in patient follow-up care and telephone dialogue after hospital discharge. However, the ideal structure, method and timing of telephone follow-up as well as the skills required to carry out such care over the phone are often not considered and have not been articulated. The option of telephone follow-up could, for some patients, dramatically improve their care experience.