title: Patients' experience with cancer care: a qualitative study in family practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuity is an important aspect of cancer care that is often a challenge owing to the movement of patients between family practice, cancer clinics, and hospitals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the experiences of cancer patients in relation to continuity of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted in a family practice setting. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. 10 cancer patients with a wide variation in their disease duration and experiences with medical care were interviewed. Open questions were used to encourage patients to express their personal experiences with cancer care. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed by three researchers using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cancer patients experienced a lack of information concerning cancer and its treatment. They also perceived that the cancer treatment made them suffer. In the patients' opinion, the family doctor has a limited role in cancer care. However, the patients felt that the family doctor should be aware of their health. The patients' satisfaction with the oncologist's care was high. They considered that their role in cancer care was to mediate an exchange of information between the oncologist and the family doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cancer patients experience continuity of care in several ways: continuity in cancer care should be implemented by co-ordinating activities, such as regular check-ups, a clear timeframe and provision of adequate information. In addition, communication between the primary and secondary sector could be improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Tartu, 50406 Tartu, Estonia. kadri.suija@ut.ee
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suija
authors.forename: Kadi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ilves
authors.forename: Pille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ööpik
authors.forename: Heidi-Ingrid
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maaroos
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000458:organization & administration*