A Shared Cancer Follow-Up Model of Care Between General Practitioners and Radiation Oncologists for Patients With Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Implementation Study (Preprint)

Abstract

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>The rising incidence of cancer and increasing number of cancer survivors has resulted in the need to find alternative models of care for cancer follow-up care. The acceptability for follow-up care in general practice is growing, and acceptance increases with shared-care models where oncologists are still overseeing care. However, a major barrier to this model is the effective exchange of information in real-time between oncologists and general practitioners. Improved communication technology plays an important role in the acceptability and feasibility of cancer shared follow-up care.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> <p>The aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a shared follow-up model of care between radiation oncologists and general practitioners.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> <p>This study is a mixed-method multisite implementation study exploring shared follow-up care for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer patients treated with curative radiotherapy. This study uses digital health to support a general practitioner performing some aspects of the routine radiotherapy follow-up care, whilst being overseen by a radiation oncologist in real-time. The study has two phases: 1. to establish the level of agreement between general practitioners and radiation oncologists, and 2. to implement shared follow-up care into practice and evaluate it.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>-</p> </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>Few studies have investigated the role of health technologies in supporting communication deficiencies for shared-care cancer follow-up care. The implementation and evaluation, of models of care, need to be conducted with a person-centred approach, that is responsive to patients preferences and needs. Should the findings of the study be acceptable and feasible to radiation oncologists, general practitioners and patients, it can be quickly implemented and expanded to other tumour groups, or medical oncology and haematology.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> <p>submitted - pending</p> </sec>