Continuity of Care, Follow-Up Care, and Outcomes among Breast Cancer Survivors

Yun-Yi Chen, Cheng-I Hsieh and Kuo-Piao Chung
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Yun-Yi Chen: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, Taiwan
Cheng-I Hsieh: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Kuo-Piao Chung: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: This retrospective cohort study examined the effects of care continuity on the utilization of follow-up services and outcome of breast cancer patients (stages I–III) in the post-treatment phase of care. Propensity score matching and generalized estimation equations were used in the analysis of data obtained from national longitudinal databases. The continuity of care index (COCI) was calculated separately for primary care physicians (PCP) and oncologists. Our results revealed that breast cancer survivors with a higher oncology COCI were more likely than those with a lower oncology COCI to use mammography or breast ultrasound during the follow-up period (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.19–1.32; OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06–1.18; respectively). In terms of health outcomes, a higher oncology COCI was associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.71–0.85) and emergency department use (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.95). A higher PCP COCI was also associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70–0.85) and emergency department use (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68–0.82). Overall, this study determined that ambulatory care continuity is positively associated with the likelihood of using recommended follow-up care services and negatively associated with adverse health events among breast cancer survivors.

Keywords: breast cancer; survivors; continuity of care; care continuity; follow-up care; surveillance; health outcome; hospitalization; emergency department use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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