Development and formative evaluation of a follow-up checklist for patients who have undergone sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer based on the Supportive Care Framework

Key Points

• Enhanced survivorship care is achievable with a structured checklist for post-surgery patients.
• The checklist aims to improve early detection of psychosocial issues and physical concerns post-surgery.
• Assessment utilizing a theory-driven approach highlights potential gaps in current surveillance guidelines.
• Future research calls for multi-center validation and long-term effectiveness assessments of the checklist.