Linking local electronic Holistic Needs Assessment (eHNA) data to national health data in Scotland: pilot feasibility study

This report and summary produced by Public Health Scotland, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, provides information on a pilot project to link holistic needs assessment information for cancer patients to national cancer registry and hospital data for three areas of Scotland (Highland, Renfrewshire & Tayside).

It utilises data collected through Macmillan’s Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) programme run in partnership with the Scottish Government and collected through eHNA (electronic Holistic Needs Assessment).  The report compares the eHNA cohort to the general cancer population cohort (within these same service areas) in the following ways:

• Who was using eHNA services (demographics)
• About their cancer (cancer type and stage)
• Cancer treatment (types and timings) and deaths

It also looks in more detail at the eHNA information to understand more about when the eHNA was being used and what concerns were being reported. 

By linking to eHNA, we aim to understand more about patient’s perspectives, feelings and concerns following a cancer diagnosis. We also aim to understand more about the reach of eHNA and care planning services and equity of service use.