title: Patients' experiences with continuity of cancer care in Canada: Results from the CanIMPACT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore patient perspectives on and experiences with the coordination and continuity of cancer care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using semistructured telephone interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight breast and colorectal cancer survivors 1 to 4 years after diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with the participants. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and proofread. Transcripts were reviewed to create a focused coding scheme that was used to develop categories for participants' experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although this study focused on the continuity of cancer care, patients described their experiences with cancer care in general, concentrating predominantly on their relationships with individual health care providers (HCPs). Based on patients' experiences, several themes were identified as the core components of providing good continuity and well coordinated care. The most important overarching theme was communication, which overlapped with 4 other themes: patient-HCP relationships, the role of HCPs, lack of access to care, and timely and tailored information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients believed that good communication between HCPs and patients was key to improving the overall continuity of cancer care. Continuity of care is an important theoretical concept in cancer care, but it is not easily recognized by patients. They perceive the cancer care continuum and continuity of care as cancer care in general, which is typically framed by the individual relationships with their HCPs. Future research and interventions need to focus on finding and testing ways to improve communication to enhance continuity of cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Research coordinator at the Dalhousie Family Medicine Teaching Unit in Fredericton, NB.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Easley
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director of Research at the Dalhousie Family Medicine Teaching Unit. baukjemiedema@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Baukje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miedema
authors.affiliation: Family physician in the Granovsky Gluskin Family Medicine Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ont, and Clinician Scientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.
authors.forename: June C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and Scientific Associate with the Knowledge Translation Research Network, Health Services Research Program, and Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Clinical Director of the Alberta Family Practice Research Network, Director of the Northern Alberta Primary Care Research Network, and Director of Research in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
authors.forename: Donna P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.affiliation: Giblon Professor and Vice-Chair of Research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and Director of Knowledge Translation Research in the Health Services Research Program at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grunfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*