Cancer follow-up care. Patients' perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
To assess family physicians' and specialists' involvement in cancer follow-up care and how this involvement is perceived by cancer patients.


METHODS
Self-administered survey.


METHODS
A health region in New Brunswick.


METHODS
A nonprobability cluster sample of 183 participants.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Miedema
Baukje
B
Dalhousie University Family Medicine Teaching Unit, Dr Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, Fredericton, NB. bmiedema@health.nb.ca
MacDonald
Ian
I
Tatemichi
Sue
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009509:New Brunswick; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012944:Social Support