Assessment of the interest of the geriatric oncology consultation among French general practitioners

Abstract

Objective: We assessed the interest of the geriatric oncology (GO) consultation (GOC) among general practitioners (GPs).

Materials and methods: We conducted a survey among GPs whose patients had had a GOC in 2012. A questionnaire was sent to GPs. The 1st part collected GPs' characteristics including medical education in geriatrics and GO, and knowledge of GOC. The following parts concerned the GOC and included the cancer type, GOC report and care plan.

Results: One-hundred twenty-six questionnaires corresponding to 94 GPs were collected. Concerning the GPs' characteristics, age range 50-59 (44.7%), men (62.8%) and urban practice (79.8%) were the most represented, 80.8% had no expertise in geriatrics, 60.6% knew of the existence of GOCs, and 14.9% had received medical education in GO. The most frequent cancer location was gynecological (40.7%) (82.6% were breast cancers). Of the GPs, 69.8% had received a GOC report and 92% were (very) satisfied with the delivery time. A care plan was proposed after the GOC in 83% of cases. It was satisfactory in 96.4% of cases, and applied by 74.7% of GPs. Sixteen percent of GPs were called by the GO team. The less the GP was satisfied with the GOC, the more he or she wanted phone contact (p=0.02); 94% of GPs considered the GOC (very) satisfactory. Sixty-seven percent of GPs wanted to be trained in GO.

Conclusion: Very few GPs had been trained in geriatrics and/or GO. They were mostly satisfied with GOC and expressed a wish to be trained in GO.

Keywords: Elderly patients; General practitioners; Geriatric oncology consultation.