Patients’ and medical specialists’ attitudes on follow-up care and climate impact in gynaecological oncology: a nationwide survey
With rising healthcare costs, workforce shortages and concerns about healthcare's climate impact, sustainable alternatives to traditional outpatient follow-up schedules are needed to optimize care efficiency. Understanding attitudes of patient and medical specialists is essential when redesigning follow-up care. This study explores their attitudes towards alternative follow-up approaches in gynaecological cancer care and their willingness to consider sustainability in care decisions. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted using two self-developed surveys - one for patients and one for medical specialists. The surveys assessed experiences with current follow-up, openness to alternative approaches, and views on healthcare's impact on climate change, both generally and in gynaecologic oncology follow-up care. A total of 121 respondents filled out the surveys, comprising 68 patients and 53 medical specialists. Only four out of 53 medical specialists (8%) were satisfied with current follow-up practices. 87% of 68 patients supported at least one alternative follow-up approach, including reduced follow-up frequency, telemedicine, or involving nurses or general practitioners, although 60% preferred not to reduce the number of consultations. Although many patients expressed reluctance to reducing consultations, medical specialists perceived potential benefits, including more patient-friendly care, reduced costs, lower workload and environmental benefits. Healthcare's climate impact ranked high among medical specialists' priorities, whereas patients did not consider it a major factor for modifying follow-up practices. Both patients and medical specialists in gynaecological oncology are open to alternative approaches to follow-up care, although there is a discrepancy in their attitudes. Medical specialists express greater climate concerns, whereas patients responses indicate a need for individualized care. This study highlights the importance of re-designing follow-up care to meet patient's, healthcare system's, and our planet's needs.