Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care

Transitioning survivorship care from oncologists to primary care physicians (PCPs) is a reasonable alternative to oncologist-led care. This study assessed oncologists’ attitudes and beliefs regarding sharing/transitioning survivorship care. A prospective survey of oncologists within a regional cance...

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Main Authors: Courtney H. Coschi, Daryl Bainbridge, Jonathan Sussman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Current Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/6/454
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author Courtney H. Coschi
Daryl Bainbridge
Jonathan Sussman
author_facet Courtney H. Coschi
Daryl Bainbridge
Jonathan Sussman
author_sort Courtney H. Coschi
collection DOAJ
description Transitioning survivorship care from oncologists to primary care physicians (PCPs) is a reasonable alternative to oncologist-led care. This study assessed oncologists’ attitudes and beliefs regarding sharing/transitioning survivorship care. A prospective survey of oncologists within a regional cancer program assessing self-reported barriers and facilitators to sharing/transitioning survivorship care was disseminated. In total, 63% (<i>n</i> = 39) of surveyed oncologists responded. Patient preference (89%) and anxiety (84%) are key to transition of care decisions; reduced remuneration (95%) and fewer longitudinal relationships (63%) do not contribute. Oncologists agreed that more patients could be shared/transitioned. Barriers include treatment-related toxicities (82% agree), tumor-specific factors (60–90% agree) and perception of PCP willingness to participate in survivorship care (47% agree). Oncologists appear willing to share/transition more survivors to PCPs, though barriers exist that warrant further study. Understanding these issues is critical to developing policies supporting comprehensive survivorship care models that address both cancer and non-cancer health needs. The demonstrated feasibility of this project warrants a larger-scale survey of oncologists with respect to the transition of survivorship care to PCPs, to further inform effective interventions to support high-quality survivorship care.
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spelling doaj.art-ca5f27b2b6474860a47074131edb12652023-11-23T07:51:19ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292021-12-012865452546510.3390/curroncol28060454Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship CareCourtney H. Coschi0Daryl Bainbridge1Jonathan Sussman2Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, CanadaJuravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, Department of Oncology, McMaster University, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, ON L8V 1C3, CanadaJuravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, Department of Oncology, McMaster University, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, ON L8V 1C3, CanadaTransitioning survivorship care from oncologists to primary care physicians (PCPs) is a reasonable alternative to oncologist-led care. This study assessed oncologists’ attitudes and beliefs regarding sharing/transitioning survivorship care. A prospective survey of oncologists within a regional cancer program assessing self-reported barriers and facilitators to sharing/transitioning survivorship care was disseminated. In total, 63% (<i>n</i> = 39) of surveyed oncologists responded. Patient preference (89%) and anxiety (84%) are key to transition of care decisions; reduced remuneration (95%) and fewer longitudinal relationships (63%) do not contribute. Oncologists agreed that more patients could be shared/transitioned. Barriers include treatment-related toxicities (82% agree), tumor-specific factors (60–90% agree) and perception of PCP willingness to participate in survivorship care (47% agree). Oncologists appear willing to share/transition more survivors to PCPs, though barriers exist that warrant further study. Understanding these issues is critical to developing policies supporting comprehensive survivorship care models that address both cancer and non-cancer health needs. The demonstrated feasibility of this project warrants a larger-scale survey of oncologists with respect to the transition of survivorship care to PCPs, to further inform effective interventions to support high-quality survivorship care.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/6/454survivorshiponcologistprimary caremodels of careshared caretransition
spellingShingle Courtney H. Coschi
Daryl Bainbridge
Jonathan Sussman
Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care
Current Oncology
survivorship
oncologist
primary care
models of care
shared care
transition
title Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care
title_full Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care
title_fullStr Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care
title_short Understanding the Attitudes and Beliefs of Oncologists Regarding the Transitioning and Sharing of Survivorship Care
title_sort understanding the attitudes and beliefs of oncologists regarding the transitioning and sharing of survivorship care
topic survivorship
oncologist
primary care
models of care
shared care
transition
url https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/6/454
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