Caring for cancer survivors: perspectives of oncologists, general practitioners and patients in Italy.
OBJECTIVE
The present survey investigates the views of medical oncologists, general practitioners (GPs) and patients about the various surveillance strategies.


METHODS
An online survey was conducted in Italy on a population of 329 medical oncologists, 380 GPs and 350 patients.


RESULTS
Most of GPs (n = 291; 76%) claim that follow-up should be provided by the collaboration between GPs and medical oncologists. Most medical oncologists report to have a poor relationship with GPs (n = 151; 46%) or no relationships at all (n = 14; 4%). Most patients believe there is no real collaboration between medical oncologists and GPs (n = 138; 54%).


CONCLUSIONS
GPs, medical oncologists and patients share the idea that the collaboration between oncologists and GPs for surveillance of cancer survivors is poor and should be improved.
Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.|Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Fabio
F
Puglisi
Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.|Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Elisa
E
Agostinetto
Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.|Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Lorenzo
L
Gerratana
Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.|Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Claudia
C
Bozza
Società Italiana di Medicina Generale e delle Cure Primarie (SIMG) - Italian College of General Practitioner, Conegliano, TV, Italy.
Maurizio
M
Cancian
Italian Federation of Volunteer-based Cancer Organizations FAVO, Rome, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Iannelli
Segreteria Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica (AIOM)/AIOM Secretariat Staff, Milan, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Ratti
Medical Oncology Division & Breast Unit, Brindisi, Italy.|Medicine Department IEO (Istituto Europeo di Oncologia) IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
Saverio
S
Cinieri
Medical Oncology Unit, SS Antonio & Biagio & C Arrigo Hospital, Alessandria, Italy.
Gianmauro
G
Numico
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000072103:Oncologists; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors
cancer survivors; follow-up; general practitioners; oncologists; patients; surveillance