Optimal continued care for patients with cancer may require greater involvement from primary care clinicians, according to the results of an observational study published in Current Oncology.
The study highlighted certain challenges in cancer care, including patient-centered coordination and support after patients complete their primary treatment for better outcomes overall.
“Going from seeing an oncologist to seeing a primary care clinician is often associated with fragmented care—gaps in the patient’s care that occur because of miscommunication and a lack of coordination,” stated study author Jane McElroy, PhD, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Opal Lewis Distinguished Faculty Scholar, University of Missouri School of Medicine. “This is often because of uncertainty regarding which roles and responsibilities belong to primary care and not oncology, or vice versa.”
Study Methods and Population
Investigators conducted an observational, prospective study of female patients’ experiences with cancer care in the United States. Using the ResearchMatch program to connect to patients interested in participating in research, they sent a survey to 1,224 eligible women aged 40 years or older with a cancer diagnosis who underwent treatment within the United States. Of 64 patients who responded to the invitation, 57 completed the survey. Sixty-eight percent of the survey respondents were not receiving treatment at the time of response; 89% of these patients had already completed their primary treatment and 10% stopped treatment early before completion.
Key Study Findings
Almost 80% of respondents saw the same oncologist throughout their cancer treatment, and most stayed close to their care center during active treatment, with only 8% reporting a change in clinicians during their treatment. However, more than 63% did not see the same primary care clinician throughout treatment as when they were first diagnosed.
“Previous research indicates that involving primary care clinicians during and after cancer treatment can support the patient’s overall, comprehensive health,” said Dr. McElroy. “In this study, we found patients did not always have a consistent primary care clinician.”
Previous research has shown that many patients and clinicians prefer shared-care models, which has been proven to lead to equivalent or better patient outcomes.
Many of the survey participants reported challenges with employment and their ability to return to work (26%), being able to afford their medication (21%), and with paying their medical bills (15%), both during and after active treatment for their cancer.
The study authors believed that there is a need to enhance patient-centered coordination and support for greater patient outcomes, especially as many primary care clinicians often express that they feel inadequately prepared or trained to handle robust survivorship care.
“Our research identified several educational opportunities that exist for primary care clinicians who provide survivorship care,” said co-author Mirna Becevic, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, University of Missouri School of Medicine. “This includes online classes, workshops, webinars, and telementoring sessions.”
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit mdpi.com.
