Oncology and Primary Care Provider Views on Cancer Survivorship Care: Mind the Gap

Mark P Doescher; Zsolt Nagykaldi; Yan Daniel Zhao; Kathleen Dwyer

doi:10.3122/jabfm.2022.02.210286

Oncology and Primary Care Provider Views on Cancer Survivorship Care: Mind the Gap

J Am Board Fam Med. 2022 Mar-Apr;35(2):329-340. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.02.210286.

Authors

Mark P Doescher¹, Zsolt Nagykaldi², Yan Daniel Zhao², Kathleen Dwyer²

Affiliations

¹ From Stephenson Cancer Center, College of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (MPD); College of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (ZN); Stephenson Cancer Center, Hudson College of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (YDZ); Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (KD). mark-doescher@ouhsc.edu.
² From Stephenson Cancer Center, College of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (MPD); College of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (ZN); Stephenson Cancer Center, Hudson College of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (YDZ); Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK (KD).

Abstract

Context: Coordination between oncology and primary care practices in cancer survivorship is lacking.

Objective: To identify cancer care coordination perceptions, knowledge, and practices in a sample of Oklahoma oncology care providers (ONCs) and primary care providers (PCPs) regarding post-treatment care of adult cancer survivors.

Design: Cross-sectional, statewide survey by mail/web link in 2014/5.

Setting: PCPs identified through a primary care research network, primary care organization membership lists; ONCs identified through www.Healthgrades.com.

Participants: Contacts who were clinically active and seeing cancer patients were eligible. The final sample size included 101 ONCs and 58 PCPs who reported actively seeing cancer patients.

Measures: Responses to predominately Likert scale or ranked-order questions derived from the Survey of Physician Attitudes Regarding the Care of Cancer Survivors.

Analyses: Chi square and t tests were performed to test bivariate associations between provider type and survey measures.

Results: Statistically significant differences (P < .05) between ONC and PCP perceptions were observed for several questions on communication between the 2 provider types, ONC perceptions of PCP ability to address survivorship care, and responsibilities for post-treatment care.

Conclusions: Highly discrepant perspectives between ONCs and PCPs regarding communications and responsibilities for survivorship care may lead to adverse health outcomes. Interventions aimed at improving care coordination for cancer survivors should define each provider group's responsibilities in survivorship care, and create structures and processes that foster clear channels of communication between ONC and PCP practices.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer Survivors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Oklahoma; Primary Health Care; Quality Improvement; Survivorship.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adult
Cancer Survivors*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Neoplasms* / therapy
Primary Health Care
Survivorship

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding