Table 3 The ten most and least important quality aspects according to cancer patients (importance questionnaire)
Rank | Do you find it important that: | % very important* | Average importance score # (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
Most important questions | |||
1 | your family doctor refers you to hospital as quickly as you would like | 75 | 3.72 (3.67-3.78) |
2 | your treatment is started as soon after the diagnosis as you would like | 74 | 3.72 (3.67-3.78) |
3 | there are regular checks to find new tumours, if your type of cancer is heritable | 68 | 3.63 (3.56-3.70) |
4 | your doctor consults other doctors or refers you if additional expertise is required | 68 | 3.65 (3.59-3.71) |
5 | the time between first examination and results was short | 66 | 3.62 (3.55-3.68) |
6 | the time between referral by the family doctor and the first examination was less than 6 days | 65 | 3.59 (3.52-3.66) |
7 | you have confidence in the doctors and nurses in the hospital | 65 | 3.63 (3.57-3.68) |
8 | doctors and nurses in the hospital give you the best possible care | 61 | 3.60 (3.54-3.66) |
9 | you regularly receive information about the effect of the treatment, during the treatment period | 57 | 3.54 (3.48-3.60) |
10 | you receive sufficient information about the (dis-) advantages of different treatments, so you can make a proper choice | 56 | 3.50 (3.43-3.57) |
Least important questions | |||
1 | careproviders inform you about patient organisations | 10 | 2.53 (2.44-2.63) |
2 | you can talk to doctors and/or nurses about alternative treatments and medicines, if you wish | 15 | 2.66 (2.56-2.76) |
3 | you are informed if the waiting time is longer than expected | 17 | 2.80 (2.71-2.89) |
4 | nurses are polite to you | 18 | 2.98 (2.91-3.06) |
5 | nurses show personal interest in you | 18 | 2.89 (2.80-2.97) |
6 | you are offered help with questions regarding resuming you regular activities, during aftercare | 19 | 2.76 (2.65-2.86) |
7 | you receive information from the hospital about possibilities for psychosocial guidance, during aftercare | 19 | 2.86 (2.77-2.95) |
8 | it is regularly checked if you need help dealing with the emotions brought about by the disease and treatment | 19 | 2.81 (2.72-2.91) |
9 | you are called at home by a care provider from the hospital within a week after completion of the treatment, to discuss how you are doing | 19 | 2.81 (2.71-2.90) |
10 | the waiting time for outpatient appointments in the hospital is less than 15 minutes | 20 | 2.78 (2.68-2.87) |