Measuring what matters: patient-prioritized symptom assessment and implementation in colorectal and anal cancer survivorship care

PhD defence by Maria Lund-Tonnesen

Assessment Committee

Associate professor Hans-Christian Pommergaard, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Associate professor Therese Juul, Department of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital / Aarhus University
Dr Hanna de la Croix, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital / University of Gothenburg

Supervisors

Clinical Professor Jacob Rosenberg

Department

Department of Clinical Medicine

Graduate Programme

Health and Medical Sciences

Place

Building: Herlev Hospital, Room: Lille auditorium, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2730 Herlev

Email address to gain access to the thesis: maria.lund.tonnesen@gmail.com.
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Short description of the thesis

More people are surviving colorectal and anal cancer, but many experience long-term symptoms as a result of their treatment. These symptoms, known as late effects, can significantly affect the survivors' quality of life. While standard questionnaires help healthcare professionals identify these symptoms, they may not reveal which problems matter most to individual patients.

This PhD thesis explores how patients’ own priorities can become a greater part of treating late effects. Through four studies, it investigates the use, digital administration, and implementation of a patient-centred questionnaire called MYMOP2, and how it complements standard symptom assessments.

The findings highlight the importance of combining systematic symptom assessment with patients’ personal priorities to support more patient-centred cancer survivorship care.