title: A complex intervention to enhance the involvement of general practitioners in cancer rehabilitation. Protocol for a randomised controlled trial and feasibility study of a multimodal intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of interventions that support rehabilitation among cancer patients has to be tested before implementation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A randomised controlled trial was conducted to test the hypothesis that a multimodal intervention may give the general practitioner (GP) an enhanced role and improve rehabilitation for cancer patients. The intervention included an interview about rehabilitation needs with a rehabilitation coordinator (RC), information from the hospital to the general practitioner about individual needs for rehabilitation and an incentive for the GP to contact the patient about rehabilitation. The objective of this first report from the study was to examine the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients treated for incident cancer at Vejle Hospital, Denmark were included between May 12, 2008 and February 28, 2009. All general practices in Denmark were randomised. Patients were allocated to intervention or control (usual procedures) based on the randomisation status of their GP. The feasibility of the intervention was analysed with regard to recruitment of patients, acceptability by patients and GPs and the degree to which the planned contacts between patients, RCs and GPs were implemented. The primary outcome of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be health-related quality of life at six months (EORTC-30).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following assessment of 1 896 cancer patients, 955 patients (50%) registered with 323 general practices were included. The interview was conducted at the hospital with 50% of the patients in the intervention group, 31% were contacted by phone. Patients valued the fact that the conversation was dedicated to needs beyond the medical treatment. The GPs were generally available for information by phone and positive towards having a central role in the cancer rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was feasible to conduct a RCT to evaluate a complex intervention in the healthcare system. All elements of the intervention were acceptable and feasible and may be implemented in future practice if the effect is positive.
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre of Cancer Rehabilitation, Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Dorte Gilså
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Stinne Holm
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bergholdt
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kragstrup
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bladt
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003718:Denmark; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D010819:Physician's Role; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires