Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40977233›Full record

ArticleHealth expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy2025

Patient Voices: What Can We Learn From the Covid-19 Pandemic About Follow-Up Care in Gynaecologic Oncology?

Esther M Vermaas, Luc R C W Van Lonkhuijzen, Henrike Westerveld, Maaike A Van Der Aa, Tijmen J Bonestroo, Brigitte F M Slangen, Johanna W M Aarts

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Esther M VermaasDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0002-9047-2652
Luc R C W Van LonkhuijzenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Henrike WesterveldDepartment of Radiotherapy, Erasmus Medical Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Maaike A Van Der AaDepartment Research & Development, The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization, Utrecht, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-2934-2704
Tijmen J BonestrooDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands.
Brigitte F M SlangenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Johanna W M AartsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Funding

Funding was provided by ZonMw, Care Research Netherlands and Medical Sciences (grant number 5160482250002).
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo explore women's experiences with follow-up care after gynaecological cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic and identify key elements of aftercare from their perspective.

methodsA qualitative study was performed, including five focus group discussions and two individual interviews with 20 participants diagnosed with ovarian (n = 5), cervical (n = 6), endometrial (n = 5) or vulvar cancer (n = 4) who received follow-up care during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis, guided by the framework of the Picker Principles of Patient-Centred Care.

resultsFive themes were generated: (1) continuity of care, (2) absence of family members and carers, (3) meeting my needs, (4) managing my needs and (5) the cancer survivor narrative. The main changes experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic were the introduction to remote healthcare and the absence of family members. An interconnection between themes was found, highlighting that providing a designated, always accessible contact person can be a catalyst for the improvement of information provision and healthcare guidance.

conclusionsIn conclusion, this study highlights the need for personalised and patient-centred follow-up that promotes patient empowerment, and how this can be provided by a designated contact person. Findings emphasise the importance of tailored support, involvement of family members, addressing information gaps, and overcoming barriers to self-management. Lastly, the findings provide direction on how to approach follow-up care in the future. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: This study was done in close collaboration with the patient advocacy group Olijf; their significant input in both the design and conduct of the study is invaluable. Olijf's involvement ensured that the research remained patient-centred and aligned with the real-life concerns and priorities of those affected by gynaecological cancers. The participants in this study, all of whom are gynaecological cancer survivors, played an important role by sharing their experiences, and we extend our gratitude to them. Their insights were critical in shaping the findings of this research.

Indexed as

AftercareContinuity of Patient CareCOVID-19Genital Neoplasms, FemaleAdultAgedCancer SurvivorsFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedNetherlandsPandemicsPatient-Centered CareQualitative Researchaftercarecancer survivorshipcervical cancerCovid‐19endometrial cancerfollow‐upgynaecologic oncologyovarian cancerpatient perspectivevulvar cancer

Identifiers

PMID40977233
PMCPMC12451077

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.