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. 2023 Dec;17(6):1780-1798.
doi: 10.1007/s11764-022-01251-7. Epub 2022 Sep 6.

What is the evidence behind cancer care reviews, a primary care cancer support tool? A scoping review

Dipesh P Gopal  1   2 , Tahania Ahmad  3 , Nikolaos Efstathiou  4 , Ping Guo  4 , Stephanie J C Taylor  3
Affiliations

What is the evidence behind cancer care reviews, a primary care cancer support tool? A scoping review

Dipesh P Gopal et al. J Cancer Surviv. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: A "cancer care review" (CCR) is a conversation between a patient recently diagnosed with cancer and primary care practitioner soon after a diagnosis of cancer in the UK. This scoping review aimed to identify: methodology and validated outcome measures used to evaluate CCRs, the impact of CCRs on quality of life or symptoms, and the views of patients, their carers and healthcare professionals on CCRs.

Methods: A scoping review was performed and five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) were searched systematically from January 2000 to March 2022.

Results: Of 4133 articles, ten met the inclusion criteria. These included surveys, qualitative research on stakeholders' views and a small study evaluating group consultation CCRs. There were no studies on methodology to evaluate CCRs or the impact of CCRs on patient quality of life or symptoms. Some primary care professionals felt CCRs were a tick-box exercise, and that they had inadequate time to deliver care, compounded by inadequate primary-secondary care coordination and lack of expertise which was echoed by patients. Interviews with patients found few recalled CCRs and those that recalled CCRs did, did not find them particularly helpful. Partners of patients would welcome CCRs to raise personal health concerns and remain updated on patient care.

Conclusions: Further studies should identify the role that stakeholders believe they should have in CCRs, improve care coordination between primary care and secondary care and how to support caregivers.

Implications for cancer survivors: There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of CCRs in general practice.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer care reviews; Cancer survivorship; Living with and beyond cancer; Primary care; Scoping review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic showing the timing of care plans alongside the timing of cancer treatment. Holistic needs assessments (HNAs) occur soon after a cancer diagnosis and close to the end of treatment often in secondary care. The cancer care review (CCR) is performed by a primary care clinician within 6 months of a diagnosis of cancer. 6 months is the time relevant to cited studies but since 2020 CCRs must be performed within 12 months of a diagnosis of cancer. A treatment summary is given at the end of treatment in secondary care when the patient is discharged to primary care. *The patient is referred by the GP to be seen by a secondary care clinician within 2 weeks. **Treatment must start within 2 months (62 days) from the date that the urgent referral is received from primary care
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Search strategy for this scoping review
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
PRISMA flow diagram showing records included through systematic search of the literature
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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