Primary care utilization patterns before and after lung cancer diagnosis.
The objective of this study was to evaluate change in primary care utilization rates after lung cancer diagnosis in the Veterans Health Administration. We used electronic medical record data (1997-2005) to identify male veterans (n = 323) with incident lung cancers. Primary care utilization rates were assessed in the 12-month period before and after cancer diagnosis. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests. Rates of primary care utilization decreased by 0.02 visits per person-month (VPPM) in the 12-month period after cancer diagnosis (P > 0.05). Utilization for acute conditions decreased by 20% (P < 0.01) in the 12-month period after diagnosis, from 0.32 VPPM before diagnosis to 0.12 VPPM after diagnosis. Utilization for chronic conditions remained stable after diagnosis (0.29 VPPM vs. 0.29 VPPM, P > 0.05). Indications for primary care utilization after diagnosis were similar to indications for utilization prior to diagnosis. Common indications for utilization included hypertension and lower respiratory infections. We speculate that primary care utilization for acute conditions was lower after cancer diagnosis because several of the acute conditions (e.g. upper respiratory infection) treated prior to the cancer may have been harbingers of the cancer diagnosis. Additional research is required to illuminate how primary care can best be delivered during the initial phase of cancer treatment.
Jones
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Roudebush VAMC HSR&D Center of Excellence on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Carney Doebbeling
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult