What Information Do General Practitioners Need to Care for Patients with Lung Cancer? A Survey of General Practitioners Perceptions

Abstract

General practitioners (GPs) are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team that care for patients with lung cancer. It is essential that patient information including results of tests, management plans, treatment, and follow-up arrangements are communicated between hospital-based carers and the community-based GP. The aim of this study was to explore GPs' views about the information they need from hospital-based health professionals in the management of their patients with lung cancer. This exploration is undertaken within the context of a multidisciplinary model of care, a relatively new concept in service delivery for cancer patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was distributed to the population of 433 GPs from one Australian regional Division of General Practice. Questions related to from whom, what, when and how GPs would like to receive information from the multidisciplinary hospital-based lung cancer team. GPs reported that they wanted information from all members of the multidisciplinary hospital-based lung cancer team, not just physicians. The key triggers for communication included: any change in the patient's condition; following initial outpatient visit; at admission and discharge; and following treatment milestones. Both medical and social information were seen as important to GPs and there was strong support to receive information electronically. This study illustrates the desire by GPs to receive information from all members of the hospital-based lung cancer team if it is relevant to the ongoing care of their patient. Technology-enabled solutions, such as an electronic multidisciplinary discharge summary, the electronic health record and the person-controlled electronic health record, offer strategies to improve both timeliness and access to information.

Systematic review of the effectiveness, barriers and facilitators to general practitioner engagement with specialist secondary services in integrated palliative care

“…Enabling GP engagement in integrated palliative care with relevant specialist secondary services requires effective communication 29 30 (see table 4). Communication needs to be timely with an appropriate level of detail 30.…”

The use of cancer treatment summaries and care plans among Massachusetts physicians

“…Multiple reports indicate that cancer survivors and their providers desire written follow-up plans [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Survivors often feel very overwhelmed after the end of treatment [15] and providers perceive that treatment summaries and care plans are potentially useful in the ongoing treatment of cancer survivors, improving communication and coordination of care among providers [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

“…Survivors often feel very overwhelmed after the end of treatment [15] and providers perceive that treatment summaries and care plans are potentially useful in the ongoing treatment of cancer survivors, improving communication and coordination of care among providers [16][17][18][19][20][21]. A recent survey in New England found that survivorship care plans have already been incorporated into standard pediatric oncology practice [22].…”

Innovation

“…The paper by Stella Rowlands, Joanne Callen and Johanna Westbrook (Rowlands, Callen & Westbrook 2010) breaks new ground in relation to the informational needs of GPs in the management of patients with lung cancer. Findings from this study will be especially relevant for hospitals, as a benchmark for evaluating whether or not they are meeting information needs of the GPs in their management of patients with cancer.…”