Cancer follow-up care. Patients' perspectives.

OBJECTIVE To assess family physicians' and specialists' involvement in cancer follow-up care and how this involvement is perceived by cancer patients.

DESIGN Self-administered survey.

SETTING A health region in New Brunswick.

PARTICIPANTS A nonprobability cluster sample of 183 participants.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patients' perceptions of cancer follow-up care.

RESULTS More than a third of participants (36%) were not sure which physician was in charge of their cancer follow-up care. As part of follow-up care, 80% of participants wanted counseling from their family physicians, but only 20% received it. About a third of participants (32%) were not satisfied with the follow-up care provided by their family physicians. In contrast, only 18% of participants were dissatisfied with the follow-up care provided by specialists. Older participants were more satisfied with cancer follow-up care than younger participants.

CONCLUSION Cancer follow-up care is increasingly becoming part of family physicians' practices. Family physicians need to develop an approach that addresses patients' needs, particularly in the area of emotional support.