OBJECTIVE: To study communication between family physicians (FPs) and oncologists, and to look at the factors that may influence FP involvement in cancer care. DESIGN: This survey design uses a qualitative methodology, where the data are analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. SETTING: This was a multisite study using 14 focus groups of FPs, followed by structured telephone interviews with 116 FPs in 6 different Canadian provinces. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Interview questions were used to explore the actual and desired roles of FPs in cancer care, and the quality of communication with oncologists with reference to a particular cancer patient in the FPs' practice. RESULTS: Physicians providing cancer care must consider complex psychosocial and biomedical factors, more so than with other chronic diseases, and so written communication alone is inadequate. Family physicians require face-to-face and/or telephone communication with the oncologist to negotiate their respective roles, and to discuss the patient's prognosis and the effectiveness of proposed treatments. Family physicians expressed a desire to become more involved in all stages of cancer care in both the biomedical and psychosocial aspects, and to help better define their roles throughout the illness trajectory. CONCLUSION: These results suggest opportunities to improve the communication, coordination and comprehensiveness of shared cancer care provided by family physicians and oncologists in different clinical settings.
OBJECTIVE: To study communication between family physicians (FPs) and oncologists, and to look at the factors that may influence FP involvement in cancer care. DESIGN: This survey design uses a qualitative methodology, where the data are analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. SETTING: This was a multisite study using 14 focus groups of FPs, followed by structured telephone interviews with 116 FPs in 6 different Canadian provinces. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Interview questions were used to explore the actual and desired roles of FPs in cancer care, and the quality of communication with oncologists with reference to a particular cancerpatient in the FPs' practice. RESULTS: Physicians providing cancer care must consider complex psychosocial and biomedical factors, more so than with other chronic diseases, and so written communication alone is inadequate. Family physicians require face-to-face and/or telephone communication with the oncologist to negotiate their respective roles, and to discuss the patient's prognosis and the effectiveness of proposed treatments. Family physicians expressed a desire to become more involved in all stages of cancer care in both the biomedical and psychosocial aspects, and to help better define their roles throughout the illness trajectory. CONCLUSION: These results suggest opportunities to improve the communication, coordination and comprehensiveness of shared cancer care provided by family physicians and oncologists in different clinical settings.
Authors: C N Klabunde; D Haggstrom; K L Kahn; S W Gray; B Kim; B Liu; J Eisenstein; N L Keating Journal: Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) Date: 2017-01-10 Impact factor: 2.520
Authors: Carma L Bylund; Elisa S Weiss; Margo Michaels; Shilpa Patel; Thomas A D'Agostino; Emily B Peterson; Maria Christina Binz-Scharf; Natasha Blakeney; M Diane McKee Journal: Clin Trials Date: 2017-07-11 Impact factor: 2.486