Management Satisfaction in Survivors of Testicular Cancer

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine satisfaction with the quality of the doctor-patient relationship (QCD) and the information (INF) made available, as well as the influence of different treatment modalities and psychosocial variables in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs). Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and 6 TCSs, seen at 2 Norwegian university hospitals, were studied retrospectively and currently in a cross-sectional follow-up design. Questionnaires were filled in prior to and at the patients' follow-up examination. The mean length of time since their management period had ended was 6.5 years (range 0-17 years). Results: The QCD was rated higher than the INF. The QCD was also the strongest contributor to the variance in the INF. The patients in the surveillance group had the lowest QCD. Conclusion: The relatively high QCD scores may reflect the fact that the patients had been cured from a life-threatening disease. The low INF scores may indicate that the TCSs were poorly informed about the potential health problems related to their treatment. Thus, it is suggested that more attention should be focused on the education of the patients.