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Needs and preferences of patients with BCC and SCC
Author(s) -
Egmond S.,
Wakkee M.,
Droger M.,
Bastiaens M.T.,
Rengen A.,
Roos K.P.,
Nijsten T.,
Lugtenberg M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.17360
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , psychology
Summary Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the two most common subtypes of skin cancer. About 5.5 million people worldwide had at least one of these cancers in 2013 and this number is still rising. To find out what the needs and preferences of these patients are about their healthcare, the authors (based at the dermatology department of the Erasmus MC in the Netherlands) invited skin cancer patients for group interviews. A total of 42 patients with either BCC or SCC participated and were divided into six groups to share their thoughts and ideas. These focus groups were all audio taped and transcribed literally. Next, these documents were loaded into the software programme ‘Atlas.ti’. Two of the authors assigned codes to the texts to capture the meaning of it. These codes were subsequently clustered in groups of codes dealing with the same topic. In the end the authors could determine which main topics were the most important to patients. The similarity in needs and preferences about healthcare between BCC and SCC patients was surprisingly high. Both patient groups indicated that they needed (1) to receive all relevant, tailored information (2) a physician that takes you seriously and communicates well (3) a short waiting period and the best treatment with direct results (4) to be seen by the same physician (5) a preference for dermatologist during treatment and (6) follow‐up and (7) structured follow‐up care (8) including a full body skin examination. In addition, BCC patients expressed the need for openness and transparency and to be involved in decisions about their healthcare. By knowing now what patients want, their perspectives could be added to current guidelines, and the patient could be put in the centre of care.