Jessica L Krok-Schoen1,2, Jennifer DeSalvo3, Dori Klemanski4, Christian Stephens5, Anne M Noonan4,6, Seuli Brill6, Maryam B Lustberg4,6. 1. Division of Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 453 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Jessica.krok@osumc.edu. 2. Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Jessica.krok@osumc.edu. 3. College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 370 W. 9th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. 4. Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. 5. Division of Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 453 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 370 W. 9th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate primary care physicians' (PCPs) role in survivorship care of older breast cancer survivors, their experiences and opinions of survivorship care plans (SCPs), and suggestions for improving care coordination and facilitation of SCPs among older (≥ 65 years) breast cancer survivors. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was completed individually by PCPs about their training and what areas of survivorship they address under their care. A subset of survey participants were interviewed about survivorship care, care coordination, and the appropriateness and effects of SCPs on older breast cancer survivors' outcomes. RESULTS: Physician participants (N = 29) had an average of 13.5 years in practice. PCPs surveyed that their main role was to provide general health promotion and their least common role was to manage late- and/or long-term effects. Semi-structured interviews indicated that the majority of PCPs did not receive a SCP from their patients' oncologists and that communication regarding survivorship care was poor. Participants' suggestions for improvements to SCPs and survivorship care included regular communication with oncologists, delegation from oncologists regarding roles, and mutual understanding of each other's roles. CONCLUSION: PCPs indicated that survivorship care and SCPs should be improved, regarding communication and roles related to their patients' survivorship. PCPs should assume an active role to enhance PCP-oncologist communication. Future research in PCPs' role in survivorship care in a broad, diverse cancer survivor population is warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: More attention needs to focus on the importance of PCPs, as they are an integral part of dual management for older breast cancer survivors post-treatment.
PURPOSE: To evaluate primary care physicians' (PCPs) role in survivorship care of older breast cancer survivors, their experiences and opinions of survivorship care plans (SCPs), and suggestions for improving care coordination and facilitation of SCPs among older (≥ 65 years) breast cancer survivors. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was completed individually by PCPs about their training and what areas of survivorship they address under their care. A subset of survey participants were interviewed about survivorship care, care coordination, and the appropriateness and effects of SCPs on older breast cancer survivors' outcomes. RESULTS: Physician participants (N = 29) had an average of 13.5 years in practice. PCPs surveyed that their main role was to provide general health promotion and their least common role was to manage late- and/or long-term effects. Semi-structured interviews indicated that the majority of PCPs did not receive a SCP from their patients' oncologists and that communication regarding survivorship care was poor. Participants' suggestions for improvements to SCPs and survivorship care included regular communication with oncologists, delegation from oncologists regarding roles, and mutual understanding of each other's roles. CONCLUSION: PCPs indicated that survivorship care and SCPs should be improved, regarding communication and roles related to their patients' survivorship. PCPs should assume an active role to enhance PCP-oncologist communication. Future research in PCPs' role in survivorship care in a broad, diverse cancer survivor population is warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: More attention needs to focus on the importance of PCPs, as they are an integral part of dual management for older breast cancer survivors post-treatment.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer survivorship; Care coordination; Geriatrics; Primary care physicians; Survivorship care plans
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