A rural/urban comparison of the roles of the general practitioner in colorectal cancer management.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and compare the roles of urban, rural and remote general practitioners (GPs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) management.


METHODS
Semistructured interviews exploring GP views of their role in CRC management.


METHODS
Urban, rural and remote general practices in north Queensland.


METHODS
Fifteen GPs in urban, rural and remote practice.


METHODS
Self-reported roles in the management of CRC patients and factors influencing these roles.


RESULTS
All GPs, regardless of location of practice, played a role in diagnosis, referral, postoperative care, psychosocial counselling, follow up and palliative care. Involvement in treatment of CRC patients was only performed by remote GPs. In general, rural and remote GPs played greater roles in care coordination, clinical and psychosocial care. Rural and remote GPs were more heavily involved throughout the entire illness progression when compared with their urban counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that rural and remote GPs in north Queensland play a greater role than urban GPs in the management of CRC. In order to maintain and enhance the roles of rural and remote GPs in CRC care, appropriate guidelines and remuneration should be provided. Palliative care support might also be useful to rural and remote GPs.
Hanks
Heather
H
Rural Health Research Unit, School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. heather.hanks@jcu.edu.au
Veitch
P Craig
PC
Harris
Mark F
MF
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003376:Counseling; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D010166:Palliative Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010346:Patient Care Management; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011793:Queensland; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*