Home hospitalisation in urological cancer: assessment of the first 5 years and a satisfaction survey

Introduction : The Cancer Plan emphasizes the importance of home hospitalisation. Over the last 5 years, our department has developed this mode of hospitalisation for patients with urological cancer in order to perform chemotherapy or palliative care. The objective of this study was to determine the growth of the number of patients hospitalised at home over the last 5 years and to evaluate the satisfaction of patients hospitalised in 2005 by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted to identify patients hospitalised at home between 2001 and 2005. A satisfaction questionnaire was sent to 58 patients hospitalised in 2005 to evaluate the degree of satisfaction, management and coordination of all medical and paramedical personnel and the advantages perceived by the patients. Results : Between 2001 and 2005, 178 patients were hospitalised at home, for chemotherapy in 59% of cases and for palliative care in 41% of cases; 56% of patients were followed for prostate cancer Among the 58 patients contacted, 44 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 76%) : 43 patients were globally satisfied with their management (28 very satisfied, 13 satisfied and 2 moderately satisfied) and would recommend home hospitalisation to their relatives. No difficulties contacting the nurse, the oncologist or the urologist were reported. The advantages emphasized by patients were maintenance in their usual environment (92%) allowing continuation of daily activities (85%), limitation of ambulance transfers to hospital and decreased waiting time in hospital (9016), as well as the involvement of the general practitioner freely chosen by the patient, in follow-up (62.5%); 98% of patients would not have preferred to be managed by conventional hospitalisation for the treatment received. Conclusion : Home hospitalisation for chemotherapy or palliative care appears to be an effective alternative to conventional hospitalisation requiring good collaboration by the office-hospital network.