All.Can Patient Survey

56 This report presents findings from nearly 4,000 respondents on where they felt inefficiency occurred in their care. These findings are intrinsically important, as they represent patients’ perceptions about the efficiency of their care. Patients live the reality of healthcare delivery. Their insights are both unique and valuable. If we want to be true to our aim of delivering care focused on what matters to patients, we must consider these patient insights alongside economic and clinical data, and ensure that we account for them in our definitions of efficiency and inefficiency. From a policy perspective, we should not only be looking at health system reform; we should also look at how policies and societies need to adapt to adequately provide for people living with and beyond cancer. The All.Can patient survey findings reflect similar findings from surveys and reviews in the literature 38 49 77 78 and reveal a number of opportunities where improvement is needed from the patient perspective: 1. Ensure swift, accurate and appropriately delivered diagnosis. When asked to select the one area of cancer care where they experienced the most inefficiency, 26% of respondents chose diagnosis – more than any other area of cancer care. Even in countries where another area of cancer care was reported as most inefficient, diagnosis was always among the top three areas of inefficiency reported by respondents. For respondents whose cancer was diagnosed outside of a screening programme, speed of diagnosis had an impact on their entire experience of care. 2. Improve information-sharing, support and shared decision-making. Respondents expressed the need for better information and support to help them feel more engaged in their care. Information on what to expect in terms of side effects and risk of recurrence, and what to do after the phase of active treatment was over, was particularly needed. Conclusions