Family physicians' perspectives on practice guidelines related to cancer control

Abstract

Background: Family physicians (FPs) play an important role in cancer control. While FPs' attitudes towards, and use of guidelines in general have been explored, no study has looked at the needs of FPs with respect to guidelines for the continuum of cancer control. The objective of this study was to understand which guideline topics FPs consider important.

Primary Care Physicians’ Perspectives of Their Role in Cancer Care: A Systematic Review

“…56,58,60,62,69,70 PCPs reported that they rarely or inconsistently received sufficient correspondence from oncologists. 43,48,52,58,60,67 Though oncologists' letters contained details on investigation and examination findings, items such as treatment/management plans, future management and expectations, goals and procedures of follow-up, and psychosocial concerns were less commonly mentioned.…”

“…57 PCPs strongly recommended improved communication with oncologists so that they could effectively treat cancerrelated issues concurrently with oncologist-led treatment of the primary malignancy. 56,58,60,62,69,70 PCPs suggested improving post-treatment follow-up through a shared data management system, 53 such as the broad integration of electronic medical records and standard communication procedures between PCPs and specialists. 65,70 Provision of patient-specific standard guidelines notated by oncologists 40,44,48,59,69 or meetings aimed at sharing information and defining roles 38 were also endorsed.…”

“…56,58,60,62,69,70 PCPs suggested improving post-treatment follow-up through a shared data management system, 53 such as the broad integration of electronic medical records and standard communication procedures between PCPs and specialists. 65,70 Provision of patient-specific standard guidelines notated by oncologists 40,44,48,59,69 or meetings aimed at sharing information and defining roles 38 were also endorsed. Electronic communication and mail were valued, 40,58,65,69 but not to the exclusion of personal interaction with specialists, which was preferred.…”

“…65,70 Provision of patient-specific standard guidelines notated by oncologists 40,44,48,59,69 or meetings aimed at sharing information and defining roles 38 were also endorsed. Electronic communication and mail were valued, 40,58,65,69 but not to the exclusion of personal interaction with specialists, which was preferred.…”

“…69 For the management of paediatric cancer survivors, one study reported that 30-40 % of PCPs had participated in a conversation with a colleague about survivorship care, participated in medical education activities, or read one or more survivorship articles, and approximately 20 % had experienced formal training, possibly as distant as during their undergraduate studies. 59 lack of time and workload pressure, 49,52,64,71,72 lack of remuneration and inadequate funding, 49,52,72 lack of patient trust, 44,64 inadequate resources including cancer-specific guidelines and opportunities for mental health or multi-disciplinary referrals 40,47,52,60,69 and increased medicolegal risk. 72 Qualitative and quantitative results are summarized in Table 3.…”