Aims
Timely identification and referral of individuals with unmet supportive care needs can improve quality of life, adherence to cancer treatment, and reduce the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment. To improve access to information and support services, Cancer Council NSW established the Cancer Council Liaison (CCL) service. CCLs are based in treatment facilities and work alongside treatment team to support people affected by cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of clients’ experiences with the CCL service and satisfaction with the support received.
Methods
The research presented here, results from client experience survey was one part of a broader mixed methods evaluation. Clients who received support from a CCL were invited to participate in an anonymous survey, which included questions about cancer type, length of diagnosis, support received, and feedback on the CCL role. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively while free-text comments were coded and analysed qualitatively.
Results
Forty-seven clients completed the survey, of whom 66% (n=31) had a current or previous cancer diagnosis and 34% (n=16) were a family member/carer. After interacting with the CCL, 94% of survey respondents reported that they were more aware of the support available and how to access it, 91% reported to be less stressed about their current situation and 83% reported that their individual needs were met. Respondents reported a mean rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars regarding their experience with the CCL.
Conclusions
The findings demonstrate the high quality of clients' experiences with the CCL service and highlight the value of the CCL service in treatment centres. It should be noted that the representativeness of the findings may be limited due a small sample size. Further research is required to determine the impact of the CCL service on client quality of life and health outcomes.