Who provides psychosocial follow-up care for post-treatment cancer survivors? A survey of medical oncologists and primary care physicians.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Addressing psychosocial needs, including key components of psychologic distress, physical symptoms, and health promotion, is vital to cancer follow-up care. Yet little is known about who provides psychosocial care. This study examined physician-reported practices regarding care of post-treatment cancer survivors. We sought to characterize physicians who reported broad involvement in (ie, across key components of care) and shared responsibility for psychosocial care.

Methods

A nationally representative sample of medical oncologists (n = 1,130) and primary care physicians (PCPs; n = 1,021) were surveyed regarding follow-up care of breast and colon cancer survivors.

Results

Approximately half of oncologists and PCPs (52%) reported broad involvement in psychosocia

SUBMITTER: Forsythe LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3410404 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature