Record Response To Cancer Patient Survey

Media Release
Cancer Control Council of New Zealand

8 September 2009

Record Response To Cancer Patient Experience Survey

Cancer patients have responded in droves to a first of its kind survey in New Zealand exploring patient experiences of cancer care.

The Cancer Control Council of New Zealand has received 2,239 responses or a 66 percent response rate to its patient care survey, which has now closed.

“We want a health system that sees the patient at the centre of service delivery. The results of this survey will help provide insights and analysis for the first time about the experiences of cancer patients in New Zealand,” says Associate Professor Chris Atkinson, Chair of the Cancer Control Council.

“We are delighted with the response rate, which is the highest recorded for this survey internationally, and we appreciate and thank those patients who have taken part.”

The Council will now work through the data and analyse the results.

“The survey results will give the health sector a benchmark to measure cancer patient experiences of care and it will help us identify positives and gaps,”says Associate Professor Atkinson.

“We will be working with the regional cancer centres to ensure they are aware of and understand the results for their region.”

The survey was sent to 3,500 people who had received outpatient cancer care between October 2008 and March 2009. It sought feedback on how they felt about being told their diagnosis, information and support they received, experiences of treatment and how they were looked after by health care professionals.

A report containing the survey results will be published on the Cancer Control Council website www.cancercontrolcouncilgovt.nz from late 2009.

The Cancer Control Council is a Ministerial Advisory Committee providing an independent and sustainable focus on cancer control through strategic advice to the Minister of Health.

ENDS

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