Managing patients receiving new and unfamiliar cancer treatments: A qualitative study of general practitioners' experience.

Abstract

As systemic cancer treatments increase in complexity, general practitioners (GPs) need access to reliable information to support patients on new and often unfamiliar treatments. The authors explored the experience of GPs in supporting patients receiving anticancer therapy, and the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a new resource designed to support GPs in this role. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 GPs and oncology clinicians. Thematic analysis ofinterviews used inductive coding. Themes identified were GPs not feeling part of the team when looking after patients on cancer treatment, the role anew set of eviQ information resources could play in supporting GPs and barriers and facilitators to the implementation of these resources. GPs value reliable, published cancer treatment information, but it does not remove the need for individualised patient correspondence or the inclusion of the GP in the treating team.