FAQ

What does SCAPE mean ?

It is an acronym for Swiss Cancer Patient Experiences.

How was I selected ?

Participating oncology centers use their databases to identify eligible patients for the surveys. Then, a random draw is conducted to select 900 patients per participating center. 

Who should fill in the questionnaire ?

The questions must be answered by the person named in the invitation letter to participate in the survey attached to the questionnaire that was sent to the patients' homes. If this person needs help filling out the questionnaire, a relative or friend can help, but the answers must be given from their point of view - not from the relative or friend's point of view.

Do I have to answer all the questions ?

It is important to answer all the questions asked, unless the instructions say to skip a question. 

What are the guarantees of confidentiality ?

To ensure the confidentiality of the data, a coding procedure was implemented. Coding means that the personal information (name, address, date of birth, patient number) has been replaced by a 5-digit "code." The data collected with the questionnaire contain this code; they do not contain a name or address. The key to the code (the link between the personal information and the code) is in a password-protected document, accessible only to the local oncology center coordinator. The center does not have access to the answers provided in the questionnaire, which is located at Unisanté.

The data from the questionnaire are deidentified after data collection (i.e. the document with the encryption key is destroyed). Thereafter, it is impossible to link the answers to a name.

What do you do with the results ?

The survey results provide an insight into the experiences of cancer care and can guide the development and implementation of interventions and models of care to improve cancer care by identifying areas of care that are less well evaluated by patients.