Nationwide implementation of the Swiss Cancer Patient Experiences (SCAPE)-CH study: the third multicenter cross-sectional survey of patient experiences with cancer care

The SCAPE-CH project aimed to establish the standardized and regular collection of patient-reported experiences of cancer care (PREMs) in Switzerland, which are essential for assessing the quality of health services and determining whether the health system is meeting the needs of patients (responsive care). These measures are particularly important when caring for people with chronical diseases such as cancer, as care is often long-term and complex, involving a multitude of health professionals. 

The SCAPE-CH project, managed by Unisanté, IUFRS and the Patient lab in oncology, and partially funded by the Federal Commission for Quality (FQC) and the participating cancer centers, ran for 2 years (from October 2022 to September 2024). 

Methods

Patients from the 21 participating cancer centers across all linguistic regions in Switzerland received the paper questionnaire at home, with the possibility of completing the questionnaire online, in October 2023. The questionnaire includes questions about experiences of care before the diagnosis, at diagnosis (e.g., diagnostic testing, communication about the cancer diagnosis, decision-making about the cancer treatment), during inpatient and outpatient care at the hospital (including experiences related to cancer surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy), as well as experiences with home care and support and survivorship care. 

Results 

Of the 16,963 patients invited to participate in the survey, 7,844 completed and returned the questionnaire, resulting in a participation rate of 46%. The results indicate a high overall level of satisfaction with the care received. Key strengths include diagnostic examinations (information and timeliness), inpatient hospital care (being treated with respect, pain management, staff availability), and information provided about treatment options and treatments received.

However, the findings also highlight areas for improvement in several key domains: support and involvement of carers, information and support regarding long-term side effects, and post-treatment support (home care and follow-up). Additionally, communication about financial assistance and social resources could be improved to better meet patients' needs.

Further results and information on the study website: https://www.scape-enquete.ch