Bart Knottnerus
Publicatie
Datum
01-10-2025
A goal without a plan is just a wish—creating a personalized aftercare plan for breast cancer patients supported by the Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid.
Dekker-Klaassen, A., Drossaert, C.H.C., Thé, R., Zeillemaker, A.M., Hezewijk, M. van, De Keulenaar-Suiker, I.M., Knottnerus, B.J., Honkoop, A., Van der Lee, M.L., Korevaar, J.C., Siesling, S. A goal without a plan is just a wish—creating a personalized aftercare plan for breast cancer patients supported by the Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid. Current Oncology: 2025. 32(10), art. nr. 552.
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Simple Summary
Breast cancer patients often face long-term challenges after completing treatment, such as tiredness, pain and fear of cancer recurrence. Personalized aftercare can help them manage these issues, but such care is not always tailored to individual needs. This study describes the development of the Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid (BC-ADA), a tool designed to support shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals. The tool provides information on five key areas of recovery—physical health, emotions, relationships, trust in the body, and resuming daily activities. Patients can indicate their goals and support needs, which helps create a personalized aftercare plan together with their healthcare professional. The tool was developed with input from both patients and healthcare professionals and was found to be user-friendly and relevant. The BC-ADA has the potential to improve aftercare by promoting personalized, goal-based recovery support and is currently being tested in clinical practice.
Aim
Aftercare plans can support breast cancer patients’ self-management after curative treatment but are often not personalized and limitedly applied by healthcare practitioners (HCPs). This study aimed to develop a tool integrating information provision and assessment of patients’ goals and needs, to support the creation and application of a personalized aftercare plan.
Method
A multidisciplinary workgroup guided the development by defining the target audience, scope and purpose. Needs of 18 patients and 15 HCPs were assessed to determine the tool’s content and format.
Results
Usability tests of a prototype among 7 patients and 10 HCPs informed improvements and finalization. The tool, called ‘Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid’ (BC-ADA), provides information on potential effects of cancer and support options on five domains: physical wellbeing, emotions, relationships, regaining trust and return to daily routine. Patients can indicate which domain(s) they wish to improve, what resources they have and where additional help is needed. Based on their answers, patients can create an aftercare plan together with the HCP, including personal goals, specific actions and agreements on follow-up.
Conclusions
Usability and acceptability were positively evaluated by both patients and HCPs. The BC-ADA seems promising in supporting personalized aftercare decision-making and is currently being tested in the NABOR-study in Dutch hospitals.
Breast cancer patients often face long-term challenges after completing treatment, such as tiredness, pain and fear of cancer recurrence. Personalized aftercare can help them manage these issues, but such care is not always tailored to individual needs. This study describes the development of the Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid (BC-ADA), a tool designed to support shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals. The tool provides information on five key areas of recovery—physical health, emotions, relationships, trust in the body, and resuming daily activities. Patients can indicate their goals and support needs, which helps create a personalized aftercare plan together with their healthcare professional. The tool was developed with input from both patients and healthcare professionals and was found to be user-friendly and relevant. The BC-ADA has the potential to improve aftercare by promoting personalized, goal-based recovery support and is currently being tested in clinical practice.
Aim
Aftercare plans can support breast cancer patients’ self-management after curative treatment but are often not personalized and limitedly applied by healthcare practitioners (HCPs). This study aimed to develop a tool integrating information provision and assessment of patients’ goals and needs, to support the creation and application of a personalized aftercare plan.
Method
A multidisciplinary workgroup guided the development by defining the target audience, scope and purpose. Needs of 18 patients and 15 HCPs were assessed to determine the tool’s content and format.
Results
Usability tests of a prototype among 7 patients and 10 HCPs informed improvements and finalization. The tool, called ‘Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid’ (BC-ADA), provides information on potential effects of cancer and support options on five domains: physical wellbeing, emotions, relationships, regaining trust and return to daily routine. Patients can indicate which domain(s) they wish to improve, what resources they have and where additional help is needed. Based on their answers, patients can create an aftercare plan together with the HCP, including personal goals, specific actions and agreements on follow-up.
Conclusions
Usability and acceptability were positively evaluated by both patients and HCPs. The BC-ADA seems promising in supporting personalized aftercare decision-making and is currently being tested in the NABOR-study in Dutch hospitals.
Simple Summary
Breast cancer patients often face long-term challenges after completing treatment, such as tiredness, pain and fear of cancer recurrence. Personalized aftercare can help them manage these issues, but such care is not always tailored to individual needs. This study describes the development of the Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid (BC-ADA), a tool designed to support shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals. The tool provides information on five key areas of recovery—physical health, emotions, relationships, trust in the body, and resuming daily activities. Patients can indicate their goals and support needs, which helps create a personalized aftercare plan together with their healthcare professional. The tool was developed with input from both patients and healthcare professionals and was found to be user-friendly and relevant. The BC-ADA has the potential to improve aftercare by promoting personalized, goal-based recovery support and is currently being tested in clinical practice.
Aim
Aftercare plans can support breast cancer patients’ self-management after curative treatment but are often not personalized and limitedly applied by healthcare practitioners (HCPs). This study aimed to develop a tool integrating information provision and assessment of patients’ goals and needs, to support the creation and application of a personalized aftercare plan.
Method
A multidisciplinary workgroup guided the development by defining the target audience, scope and purpose. Needs of 18 patients and 15 HCPs were assessed to determine the tool’s content and format.
Results
Usability tests of a prototype among 7 patients and 10 HCPs informed improvements and finalization. The tool, called ‘Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid’ (BC-ADA), provides information on potential effects of cancer and support options on five domains: physical wellbeing, emotions, relationships, regaining trust and return to daily routine. Patients can indicate which domain(s) they wish to improve, what resources they have and where additional help is needed. Based on their answers, patients can create an aftercare plan together with the HCP, including personal goals, specific actions and agreements on follow-up.
Conclusions
Usability and acceptability were positively evaluated by both patients and HCPs. The BC-ADA seems promising in supporting personalized aftercare decision-making and is currently being tested in the NABOR-study in Dutch hospitals.
Breast cancer patients often face long-term challenges after completing treatment, such as tiredness, pain and fear of cancer recurrence. Personalized aftercare can help them manage these issues, but such care is not always tailored to individual needs. This study describes the development of the Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid (BC-ADA), a tool designed to support shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals. The tool provides information on five key areas of recovery—physical health, emotions, relationships, trust in the body, and resuming daily activities. Patients can indicate their goals and support needs, which helps create a personalized aftercare plan together with their healthcare professional. The tool was developed with input from both patients and healthcare professionals and was found to be user-friendly and relevant. The BC-ADA has the potential to improve aftercare by promoting personalized, goal-based recovery support and is currently being tested in clinical practice.
Aim
Aftercare plans can support breast cancer patients’ self-management after curative treatment but are often not personalized and limitedly applied by healthcare practitioners (HCPs). This study aimed to develop a tool integrating information provision and assessment of patients’ goals and needs, to support the creation and application of a personalized aftercare plan.
Method
A multidisciplinary workgroup guided the development by defining the target audience, scope and purpose. Needs of 18 patients and 15 HCPs were assessed to determine the tool’s content and format.
Results
Usability tests of a prototype among 7 patients and 10 HCPs informed improvements and finalization. The tool, called ‘Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid’ (BC-ADA), provides information on potential effects of cancer and support options on five domains: physical wellbeing, emotions, relationships, regaining trust and return to daily routine. Patients can indicate which domain(s) they wish to improve, what resources they have and where additional help is needed. Based on their answers, patients can create an aftercare plan together with the HCP, including personal goals, specific actions and agreements on follow-up.
Conclusions
Usability and acceptability were positively evaluated by both patients and HCPs. The BC-ADA seems promising in supporting personalized aftercare decision-making and is currently being tested in the NABOR-study in Dutch hospitals.