Title:	ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE SURVIVORSHIP CARE
Author(s):	David Wiljer, Jacqueline L. Bender, Caterina Masino, James Brierley
ISBN:	978-972-8939-70-0
Editors:	Mário Macedo
Year:	2012
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Thyroid Cancer, Telemedicine, Videoconference, Email, Cost, Greenhouse gas emission, Travel distance
Type:	Short Paper
First Page:	237
Last Page:	241
Language:	English
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Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	The growing population of cancer survivors with long-term supportive care needs presents an enormous challenge to the health care system. This paper examines thyroid cancer patients’ preferences for email and videoconferencing alternatives to face-to-face follow-up visits, the estimated travel costs, as well as health system and environmental implications. This study is a component of a cross-sectional self-report survey involving thyroid, prostate and breast cancer patients receiving follow-up care at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) in Toronto, Canada. The findings suggest that there are substantial estimated savings that can be obtained in terms of time, cost, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions avoided associated with vehicle travel to access follow-up care among a sample of thyroid cancer survivors. On average, the 113 patients who participated in the survey spent an estimated 2 hours travelling more than 120 kilometres to and from PMH for their follow-up appointment. This was associated with an estimated total of $5822.42 CAD in vehicle costs and an estimated 6945.6 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq.). Nearly one-third of participants (30%) agreed or strongly agreed to videoconferencing based follow-up care and 18% agreed or strongly agreed to email-based follow-up care (18%). The potential for savings in personal time, travel time/distance, cost and environmental savings associated with using technology as an option for thyroid cancer follow-up provides further incentives for their adoption. Videoconferencing appears to be a more preferred form of technology to access follow-up care than email especially when patients experience geographic or mobility barriers to access care that may be otherwise unavailable. Future research should examine patient and provider requirements for participation in technology assisted cancer follow-up care, the extent to which it could complement or replace traditional follow-up care, as well as the feasibility of using freely available web-based video-conferencing software solutions.
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