to demonstrate the extent of the variation in follow-up policies in Canadian head and neck cancer treatment centres.
telephone survey of head and neck surgeons.
there is a wide variation in both follow-up policies and beliefs about follow-up. The majority of centres saw patients every 2 to 3 months for the first 2 years, every 3 to 4 months in year 3, and every 6 months in years 4 and 5.
research is required to determine effective follow-up policies to maximize both patient outcomes and resource management as the numbers of patients in follow-up increase.