title: General practitioners' attitudes toward follow-up after cancer treatment: A cross-sectional questionnaire study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An increasing number of cancer patients place a significant workload on hospital outpatient clinics, and health authorities are considering alternative follow-up regimens. It has been suggested that follow-up of cancer patients could be provided by GPs. This study aimed to explore GPs' experiences with the provision of follow-up care for cancer patients, and their views on assuming greater responsibility in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic questionnaire study.
  
  
  METHODS
  GPs in seven regions in Norway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 317 GPs responded. Many GPs reported experience in providing follow-up care to cancer patients, during the years following initial diagnosis primarily in collaboration with hospital specialists. More than half of the GPs were satisfied with their collaboration. Most GPs preferred to be involved at an early stage in follow-up care and, generally, GPs felt confident in their skills to provide this type of service. Fewer than 10% were willing to assume responsibility for additional cancer patients, citing potentially increased workload as the main reason.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPs acknowledged the importance of providing follow-up care to cancer patients, and the majority felt confident in their own ability to provide such care. However, they were hesitant to assume greater responsibility primarily due to fears of increased workload. Key Points It has been suggested that follow-up of cancer patients can be provided by general practitioners (GPs). The viewpoints and attitudes of GPs regarding such follow-up were investigated. GPs reported broad experience in providing follow-up care to patients after active cancer treatment. GPs acknowledged the importance of follow-up care, and they felt confident in their own ability to provide such care. Fewer than 10% of GPs were willing to assume responsibility for additional cancer patients, citing potentially increased workload as the main reason.
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Practice , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Norway ;|b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Sørlandet Hospital , Kristiansand , Norway.
authors.forename: Heidi Lidal
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Fidjeland
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Practice , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Norway ;
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brekke
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Sørlandet Hospital , Kristiansand , Norway.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vistad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009664:Norway; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload
keywords: Attitudes; Norway; cancer patients; cancer survivors; follow-up care; general practice; primary care physician