Willingness to follow breast cancer. Survey of family physicians.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the experience and willingness of family physicians to accept follow-up care of patients treated for stage I breast cancer.


METHODS
Mailed questionnaire.


METHODS
One hundred eighty-nine family physicians in southwestern Ontario with oversampling of female physicians and physicians practising more than 20 km from a cancer clinic.


METHODS
Willingness to follow breast cancer patients and time after treatment family physicians would be willing to begin follow-up care.


RESULTS
We had an 81.5% response rate. Of the 154 respondents, 53% had been involved previously in the 5-year, follow-up care of a patient with breast cancer and 77.1% believed it appropriate for family physicians to assume responsibility for follow-up care in all or most cases. If asked by a patient, the family, or an oncologist to provide follow-up care, 90.1% of family physicians reported they would accept this responsibility. Willingness to follow breast cancer patients was not associated with sex, years in practice, proximity to a cancer clinic, or certification status but was associated with having previously provided such care (P = .043). Of those willing to care for these patients, almost 90% would prefer to start within 1 year of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Although only half the respondents had experience in providing follow-up care to breast cancer patients, most were willing to take on this role, especially if asked.
Worster
A
A
Department of Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London.
Bass
M J
MJ
Wood
M L
ML
D000359:Aftercare; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009864:Ontario; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'