RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cancer follow-up care. Patients' perspectives.
JF Canadian Family Physician
JO Can Fam Physician
FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada
SP 890
OP 895
VO 49
IS 7
A1 Miedema, Baukje
A1 MacDonald, Ian
A1 Tatemichi, Sue
YR 2003
UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/49/7/890.abstract
AB 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.