Accessibility, Availability, and Potential Benefits of Psycho‐Oncology Services: The Perspective of Community‐Based Physicians Providing Cancer Survivorship Care

General practitioners are often the primary contacts for survivors of cancer for disclosing their distress. This study explores three avenues for GPs to provide survivorship plans including availability and benefits of pyscho-oncology services, if GPs should provide psychosocial support, and predicting issues that impede referrals for services. In a cross-sectional survey, 683 GPs responded with a large proportion, 14.9% said they did not offer any psychosocial support. GPs did believe that pyscho-oncology services support was most beneficial, however availability and impeded referrals were an issue particularly in rural areas. There is a clear need to raise awareness of GPs being a person of trust for survivors, importance and effectiveness of pyscho-oncology services, and encourage assessment of unmet needs.  Future development and policies in this area should focus on the follow up of cancer survivors with an integrated GP and pyscho-oncology services approach, particularly in rural areas.   Read the full article here.