Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2018: national report

7. Operations, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

Summary

• Respondents who had an operation were positive about the information they were given – 92 per cent reported they received all the information they needed beforehand, 82 per cent received an explanation of how it had gone that they could understand, and 80 per cent were given clear written information on what they should or should not do afterwards.
• Respondents who had radiotherapy or chemotherapy were positive about having all the information they needed before treatment (77 and 74 per cent respectively). However, responses to both of these questions were both slightly less positive than in 2015.

Operations

Around three in four people (74 per cent) had an operation for their cancer, such as removal of a tumour or lump. These respondents were then asked to complete a number of questions about the last time they had an operation for their cancer.

Most people (92 per cent) responded that, knowing what they know now, they had all the information they needed about their operation beforehand. This is consistent with results from 2015. Looking in more detail at the eight per cent who would have liked more information, they were evenly split between wanting more written information, more verbal information and more written and verbal information.

Just over four-fifths of people (82 per cent) felt that a member of staff explained how the operation had gone afterward in a way they could completely understand. This is an increase from 80 per cent in 2015. Fifteen per cent felt this was explained in a way they could understand to some extent and three per cent did not receive an explanation but would have liked one.

Four in five people (80 per cent) were given clear written information about what they should or should not do after their operation.

Figure 7.1: Proportion of positive responses to questions on operations

Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy

Going through chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy can be a very difficult experience. To help them prepare, individuals should be offered all the information they need beforehand, such as information on possible side effects that may occur, both during the course of the treatment and in the future. Clarity of communication is crucial given the many types of chemotherapy drugs and types of radiotherapy available, and the rate at which new drugs and techniques emerge.

Just under half of respondents (47 per cent) had received radiotherapy treatment. Of these respondents, just over three-quarters (77 per cent) reported that, knowing what they know now, they had all the information they needed about their radiotherapy treatment beforehand. This is a decrease from 81 per cent in 2015. Almost one-fifth of people (19 per cent) felt that they had some of the information they needed, and four per cent reported that they did not have all the information they needed beforehand.

Similarly, just under half of respondents (47 per cent) had received chemotherapy treatment. Of those who had chemotherapy, around three in four (74 per cent) felt that, knowing what they know now, they had all the information they needed about their chemotherapy treatment beforehand. This is a decrease from 77 per cent in 2015. Just over one in five people (22 per cent) had some of the information they needed and four per cent reported that they did not have all the information they needed beforehand.

Figure 7.2: Proportion of respondents receiving treatment type who had all the information they needed about their treatment beforehand