Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.

Background: Alongside specialist cancer clinics, general practitioners have an important role in cancer patients’ follow-up care, yet no literature summarises the nature, extent and impact of their involvement. This paper addresses this issue through a review of the literature. Methods: Studies we...

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Main Authors: Ngune, Irene, Jiwa, Moyez, McManus, Alexandra, Hughes, Jeff
Format: Journal Article
Published: International Foundation of Integrated Care 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijic.org/index.php/ijic/article/view/1987
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43576
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author Ngune, Irene
Jiwa, Moyez
McManus, Alexandra
Hughes, Jeff
author_facet Ngune, Irene
Jiwa, Moyez
McManus, Alexandra
Hughes, Jeff
author_sort Ngune, Irene
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Alongside specialist cancer clinics, general practitioners have an important role in cancer patients’ follow-up care, yet no literature summarises the nature, extent and impact of their involvement. This paper addresses this issue through a review of the literature. Methods: Studies were sourced from six academic databases - AustHealth (n = 202), CINAHL (n = 500), the Cochrane Library (reviews and trials; n = 200), Embase (n = 368), PHCRIS (n = 132) and PubMed/Medline (n = 410). Studies that focused on interventions designed for patients receiving follow-up care and reported cancer care provided by a general practitioner delivered alongside specialist care were reviewed. Results: A total of 19 papers were identified as relevant for this review (3 randomised control trials; 4 cross-sectional, 5 cohort and 3 qualitative studies, and 3 systematic reviews). The reviewed studies indicated that providing general practitioner-led supportive inter- ventions for post-treatment care of cancer patients is feasible and acceptable to patients. General practitioner involvement resulted in improved physical and psychosocial well-being of patients and continuity of care, especially for patients with concomitant health conditions. Conclusion: Involving general practitioners in post-treatment cancer care is beneficial to patients. However, proactive initiatives that encourage and facilitate patients to consult their general practitioner about their needs or symptoms of recurrence should be considered.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-435762020-09-18T01:54:33Z Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review. Ngune, Irene Jiwa, Moyez McManus, Alexandra Hughes, Jeff integrated care supportive care primary health care follow-up care cancer Background: Alongside specialist cancer clinics, general practitioners have an important role in cancer patients’ follow-up care, yet no literature summarises the nature, extent and impact of their involvement. This paper addresses this issue through a review of the literature. Methods: Studies were sourced from six academic databases - AustHealth (n = 202), CINAHL (n = 500), the Cochrane Library (reviews and trials; n = 200), Embase (n = 368), PHCRIS (n = 132) and PubMed/Medline (n = 410). Studies that focused on interventions designed for patients receiving follow-up care and reported cancer care provided by a general practitioner delivered alongside specialist care were reviewed. Results: A total of 19 papers were identified as relevant for this review (3 randomised control trials; 4 cross-sectional, 5 cohort and 3 qualitative studies, and 3 systematic reviews). The reviewed studies indicated that providing general practitioner-led supportive inter- ventions for post-treatment care of cancer patients is feasible and acceptable to patients. General practitioner involvement resulted in improved physical and psychosocial well-being of patients and continuity of care, especially for patients with concomitant health conditions. Conclusion: Involving general practitioners in post-treatment cancer care is beneficial to patients. However, proactive initiatives that encourage and facilitate patients to consult their general practitioner about their needs or symptoms of recurrence should be considered. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43576 http://www.ijic.org/index.php/ijic/article/view/1987 International Foundation of Integrated Care fulltext
spellingShingle integrated care
supportive care
primary health care
follow-up care
cancer
Ngune, Irene
Jiwa, Moyez
McManus, Alexandra
Hughes, Jeff
Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.
title Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.
title_full Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.
title_fullStr Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.
title_full_unstemmed Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.
title_short Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? A literature review.
title_sort do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefits from general practitioner support? a literature review.
topic integrated care
supportive care
primary health care
follow-up care
cancer
url http://www.ijic.org/index.php/ijic/article/view/1987
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43576