Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38194133›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2024

The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on follow-up of patients with early breast cancer: A patient survey.

Ana-Alicia Beltran-Bless, Gail Larocque, Muriel Brackstone, Angel Arnaout, Jean-Michel Caudrelier, Denise Boone, Parvaneh Fallah, Terry Ng, Peter Cross, Nasser Alqahtani and 4 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05365230 (A Randomized Trial Evaluating Personalized vs Guideline-based Well Follow-up Strategies for Patients With Early-stage Breast Cancer), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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.

NCT05365230 phase4completednot on this map

A Randomized Trial Evaluating Personalized vs Guideline-based Well Follow-up Strategies for Patients With Early-stage Breast Cancer (REaCT-Wellness)

TypeinterventionalSponsorOttawa Hospital Research InstituteRan2022 to 2025Enrolled261ConditionsBreast CancerArmsOn-demand personalized follow-up care, Guideline-based follow-up care (standard of care)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer survivorship: a scoping review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. 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

14 authors.

Ana-Alicia Beltran-BlessDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Gail LarocqueThe Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Muriel BrackstoneDepartment of Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.
Angel ArnaoutThe Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Jean-Michel CaudrelierThe Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Denise BooneThe Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Parvaneh FallahDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Terry NgDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Peter CrossDepartment of Radiation Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Nasser AlqahtaniDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
John HiltonDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Lisa VandermeerCancer Therapeutics Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Gregory PondDepartment of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Mark ClemonsDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. mclemons@toh.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0738-2713

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDespite limited evidence supporting its effectiveness, most guidelines recommend long-term, routinely scheduled in-person surveillance of patients with early breast cancer (EBC). The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased use of virtual care. This survey evaluated patient perspectives on follow-up care.

methodsPatients with EBC undergoing surveillance were surveyed about follow-up protocols, perceptions, and interest in clinical trials assessing different follow-up strategies.

resultsOf 402 approached patients 270 completed the survey (response rate 67%). Median age 62.5 years (range 25-86) and median time since breast cancer diagnosis was 3.8 years (range < 1-33 years). Most (n = 148/244, 60%) were followed by more than one provider. Routine follow-ups with breast examination were mostly conducted by medical/radiation oncologists every 6 months (n = 110/236, 46%) or annually (n = 106/236, 44%). Participants felt routine follow-up was useful to monitor for recurrence, manage side effects of cancer treatment and to provide support/reassurance. Most participants felt regular follow-up care would detect recurrent cancer earlier (n = 214/255, 96%) and increase survival (n = 218/249, 88%). The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of in-person visits for 54% of patients (n = 63/117). Patients were concerned this reduction of in-person visits would lead to later detection of both local (n = 29/63, 46%) and distant recurrences (n = 25/63, 40%). While many felt their medical and radiation oncologists were the most suited to provide follow-up care, 55% felt comfortable having their primary care provider (PCP) conduct surveillance. When presented with a scenario where follow-up has no effect on earlier detection or survival, 70% of patients still wanted routine in-person follow-up for reassurance (63%) with the goal of earlier recurrence detection (56%).

conclusionsDespite limited evidence of effectiveness of routine in-person assessment, patients continue to place importance on regularly scheduled in-person follow-up.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCOVID-19AdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMiddle AgedNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalPandemicsBreast cancerFollow-upPatient surveySurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID38194133

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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 OpenQuestion graph.