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.

Design Electronic questionnaire study.

Subjects 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.

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• cancer patients
• cancer survivors
• follow-up care
• general practice
• Norway
• primary care physician

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Per Jacobsen, the University of Oslo, for technical assistance with the electronic survey.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

The study was funded by the General Practice Research Fund (AMFF) hosted by the Norwegian Medical Association.