Cancer survivorship care and general practice: A qualitative study of roles of general practice team members in Australia

With an ageing population and continued improvements in survival rates, over 1.1 million Australians are now living with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer survivors often have complex needs and are less likely to receive optimal, holistic care if they do not see a primary care provider. Primary care providers, including general practice teams (GPTs), are well positioned within the community to integrate cancer survivorship care into ongoing health management. This qualitative study explored the roles of GPT members in delivering survivorship care from the perspectives of General Practitioners (GPs), Practice Nurses (PNs) and Practice Managers (PMs). The findings suggest that there were variations in the perception of cancer survivors’ needs, individual team members’ scopes of practice, and individual professional knowledge and skills. Particularly, a lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities of GPT members was thought to contribute to a lack of consistency in survivorship care. To reduce this variation, practical guidance to clarify scopes of practice and system level support from cancer centres in clarifying roles of primary care team has been suggested. In addition to accessible comprehensive education programs, other innovative, tailored individualised education approaches may also be helpful for GPT members. All of these elements can help facilitate a survivorship delivery system at general practice level where those within GPT can ensure that individual patients’ needs are met in a timely and effective manner. Read full text