Susanne Thayssen1, Dorte G Hansen2, Jens Søndergaard2,3, Mette T Høybye4,5, Palle M Christensen6, Helle P Hansen3. 1. National Research Center of Cancer Rehabilitation, Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, sthayssen@health.sdu.dk. 2. National Research Center of Cancer Rehabilitation, Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 3. Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 4. Interdisciplinary Research Unit, Elective Surgery Centre, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, Silkeborg, Denmark. 5. Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark and. 6. General Practitioners, Lærkevej 14, 5450 Otterup, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: International guidelines recommend health care professionals to use supportive tools like questionnaires when assessing cancer patients' needs. Little is known about GPs' perspectives and experience in this regard. OBJECTIVE: To examine how GPs experience to involve a short questionnaire, completed by patients' prior to a consultation, when addressing the patients' problems and needs. The aim is to contribute to the knowledge concerning the use of questionnaires as part of clinical cancer care in general practice. METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews with 11 GPs in the Region of Southern Denmark purposefully sampled with regard to gender, years working in general practice and practice form. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: Most GPs found that using the questionnaire provided a supportive structure to the consultation. The questionnaire helped to bring forward issues of importance to the patients, which might otherwise not have been mentioned and enhanced a patient-centered approach. A few GPs found the use of the questionnaire to be restraining, detracting focus from the patient and impede usual practice. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that using questionnaires may have the potential to improve clinical cancer care in general practice in relation to needs assessment of cancer patients and the results support current recommendations.
BACKGROUND: International guidelines recommend health care professionals to use supportive tools like questionnaires when assessing cancerpatients' needs. Little is known about GPs' perspectives and experience in this regard. OBJECTIVE: To examine how GPs experience to involve a short questionnaire, completed by patients' prior to a consultation, when addressing the patients' problems and needs. The aim is to contribute to the knowledge concerning the use of questionnaires as part of clinical cancer care in general practice. METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews with 11 GPs in the Region of Southern Denmark purposefully sampled with regard to gender, years working in general practice and practice form. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: Most GPs found that using the questionnaire provided a supportive structure to the consultation. The questionnaire helped to bring forward issues of importance to the patients, which might otherwise not have been mentioned and enhanced a patient-centered approach. A few GPs found the use of the questionnaire to be restraining, detracting focus from the patient and impede usual practice. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that using questionnaires may have the potential to improve clinical cancer care in general practice in relation to needs assessment of cancerpatients and the results support current recommendations.
Authors: Bróna Nic Giolla Easpaig; Yvonne Tran; Mia Bierbaum; Gaston Arnolda; Geoff P Delaney; Winston Liauw; Robyn L Ward; Ian Olver; David Currow; Afaf Girgis; Ivana Durcinoska; Jeffrey Braithwaite Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2020-02-10 Impact factor: 2.655