Aim: To understand and quantify factors associated with the transition of care identified by the AH regional pathway and guide: head and neck cancer.
Method: Queensland public health rehabilitation AH professionals with an interest in head and neck cancer, were invited to participate in a survey monkey. The authors set a target response rate of 70 (representing each profession, at each cancer service site and 15-20 rural/remote/community clinicians).
Results:
*70 respondents participated (19 Speech Pathologists, 15 Dietitians, 13 Physiotherapists, 10 Occupational Therapists, 8 Social Workers, 3 Psychologists, 1 Orthotists, 1 Leisure Therapist).
*66% completion rate.
*Respondents worked in hospitals(31), outpatients(4), hospital and outpatients(33) and community(2) settings. With 33%(23/70) based metropolitan.
*60%(42/70) of clinicians claimed to be cancer specialists, 28%(20/70) reported qualifications specific to cancer care, the majority(14) cited lymphoedema training, 3 citing Masters or PhD studies, the remainder course/ workshop attendance.
*>90%(64/69) reported receiving >6hrs/year of professional support that was cancer specific
*16 clinicians reported involvement in research, with 39 respondents interested in being involved in research.
*53%(34/64) services collect patient satisfaction measures, 17%(10/63) collect clinician satisfaction
*48%(25/52)routinely collect outcome measures
*Of clinicians who discharge patients, 55%(17/31) send a summary to the local AHP and 33%(10/30) to the patients GP
*The survey explored factors that facilitate and prevent transition of care to local services, including utilisation of telehealth
Conclusions: AH are engaged in the process of improving patient flow evidenced by high participation rates. This survey suggests that local clinicians can be supported to up-skill using methods of professional support. Feedback, engagement and communication deficits are apparent. The baseline survey describes the magnitude of factors affecting transition to local care, guiding implementation actions and allowing outcomes to be quantified.