Kiara Hugh-Yeun1, Divjot Kumar2, Ali Moghaddamjou2, Jenny Y Ruan1, Winson Y Cheung3. 1. Division of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 2. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 3. Tom Baker Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N2, Canada. winson.cheung@ahs.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Young adult cancer survivors face unique challenges associated with their illness. While both oncologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) may be involved in the follow-up care of these cancer survivors, we hypothesized that there is a lack of clarity regarding each physician's roles and responsibilities. METHODS: A self-administered survey was mailed to young adult cancer survivors in British Columbia, Canada, who were aged 20 to 39 years at the time of diagnosis and alive at 2 to 5 years following the diagnosis to capture their expectations of oncologists and PCPs in various important domains of cancer survivorship care. Multivariate logistic regression models that adjusted for confounders were constructed to examine for predictors of the different expectations. RESULTS: Of 722 young cancer survivors surveyed, 426 (59%) responded. Among them, the majority were White women with breast cancer. Oncologists were expected to follow the patient's most recent cancer and treatment-related side effects while PCPs were expected to manage ongoing and future cancer surveillance as well as general preventative care. Neither physician was perceived to be responsible for addressing the return to daily activities, reintegration to interpersonal relationships, or sexual function. Older survivors were significantly less likely to expect oncologists (p = 0.03) and PCPs (p = 0.01) to discuss family planning when compared to their younger counterparts. Those who were White were significantly more likely to expect PCPs to discuss comorbidities (p = 0.009) and preventative care (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Young adult cancer survivors have different expectations of oncologists and PCPs with respect to their follow-up care. Physicians need to better clarify their roles in order to further improve the survivorship phase of cancer care for young adults. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Young adult cancer survivors have different expectations of their oncologists and PCPs. Clarification of the roles of each physician group during follow-up can enhance the quality of survivorship care for young adults.
PURPOSE: Young adult cancer survivors face unique challenges associated with their illness. While both oncologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) may be involved in the follow-up care of these cancer survivors, we hypothesized that there is a lack of clarity regarding each physician's roles and responsibilities. METHODS: A self-administered survey was mailed to young adult cancer survivors in British Columbia, Canada, who were aged 20 to 39 years at the time of diagnosis and alive at 2 to 5 years following the diagnosis to capture their expectations of oncologists and PCPs in various important domains of cancer survivorship care. Multivariate logistic regression models that adjusted for confounders were constructed to examine for predictors of the different expectations. RESULTS: Of 722 young cancer survivors surveyed, 426 (59%) responded. Among them, the majority were White women with breast cancer. Oncologists were expected to follow the patient's most recent cancer and treatment-related side effects while PCPs were expected to manage ongoing and future cancer surveillance as well as general preventative care. Neither physician was perceived to be responsible for addressing the return to daily activities, reintegration to interpersonal relationships, or sexual function. Older survivors were significantly less likely to expect oncologists (p = 0.03) and PCPs (p = 0.01) to discuss family planning when compared to their younger counterparts. Those who were White were significantly more likely to expect PCPs to discuss comorbidities (p = 0.009) and preventative care (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Young adult cancer survivors have different expectations of oncologists and PCPs with respect to their follow-up care. Physicians need to better clarify their roles in order to further improve the survivorship phase of cancer care for young adults. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Young adult cancer survivors have different expectations of their oncologists and PCPs. Clarification of the roles of each physician group during follow-up can enhance the quality of survivorship care for young adults.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer; Patient care; Survivors; Young adult; physician’s role
Authors: Patricia A Ganz; Katherine A Desmond; Beth Leedham; Julia H Rowland; Beth E Meyerowitz; Thomas R Belin Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2002-01-02 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Peter F Coccia; Jessica Altman; Smita Bhatia; Scott C Borinstein; Joseph Flynn; Suzanne George; Robert Goldsby; Robert Hayashi; Mary S Huang; Rebecca H Johnson; Lynda Kwon Beaupin; Michael P Link; Kevin C Oeffinger; Kathleen M Orr; Alberto S Pappo; Damon Reed; Holly L Spraker; Deborah A Thomas; Margaret von Mehren; Daniel S Wechsler; Kimberly F Whelan; Bradley J Zebrack; Hema Sundar; Dorothy A Shead Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2012-09 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Anna Jansana; Margarita Posso; Inmaculada Guerrero; Alexandra Prados-Torres; Maria Isabel Del Cura; Xavier Castells; Maria Sala Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2019-04-09 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: Andrea C Johnson; Darren Mays; Kathryn Rehberg; Aziza Shad; Kenneth P Tercyak Journal: J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol Date: 2018-04-19 Impact factor: 2.223
Authors: J L Tucholka; N Jacobson; N M Steffens; J R Schumacher; A J Tevaarwerk; B Anderson; L G Wilke; C C Greenberg; Heather B Neuman Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2018-01-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: K Decker; R Moineddin; C Kendell; R Urquhart; N Biswanger; P Groome; M L McBride; M Winget; M Whitehead; E Grunfeld Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2019-11-21 Impact factor: 2.497