Primary care physicians' involvement in the cancer care of older long-term survivors.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated survivors' reports of primary care physicians' (PCPs) involvement in three key cancer survivorship activities: discussing cancer history, whether the PCP initiated discussions, and whether discussions led to tests/procedures.


METHODS
The sample included 215 older survivors whose health care was maintained in primary care. Logistic regression explored predictors of the three activities, including demographics, cancer characteristics, survivor/PCP association characteristics, health characteristics, and psychosocial well-being.


RESULTS
Nearly two thirds of survivors indicated discussing cancer history; most said discussions were PCP initiated and nearly half said discussions resulted in tests/procedures. Predictors of discussing cancer history were African American race and more comorbid conditions. PCP-initiated discussions were related to older age, surviving breast cancer, more years in the PCP's practice, and having less general health worry. The tests/procedures model was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
As older survivors focused more on other health concerns, PCPs remained attentive to cancer issues, prompting discussions about history and ordering tests.
Bowman
Karen F
KF
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109-1998, USA. karen.bowman@case.edu
Rose
Julia H
JH
Deimling
Gary T
GT
Kypriotakis
George
G
O'Toole
Elizabeth E
EE
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D017741:Survivors