Cancer follow-up care. Patients' perspectives

Abstract

Objective: To assess family physicians' and specialists' involvement in cancer follow-up care and how this involvement is perceived by cancer patients.

Design: Self-administered survey.

Setting: A health region in New Brunswick.

Participants: A nonprobability cluster sample of 183 participants.

Main outcome measures: Patients' perceptions of cancer follow-up care.

Results: More than a third of participants (36%) were not sure which physician was in charge of their cancer follow-up care. As part of follow-up care, 80% of participants wanted counseling from their family physicians, but only 20% received it. About a third of participants (32%) were not satisfied with the follow-up care provided by their family physicians. In contrast, only 18% of participants were dissatisfied with the follow-up care provided by specialists. Older participants were more satisfied with cancer follow-up care than younger participants.

Conclusion: Cancer follow-up care is increasingly becoming part of family physicians' practices. Family physicians need to develop an approach that addresses patients' needs, particularly in the area of emotional support.