Barnes E A, Hanson J, Neumann C M, Nekolaichuk C L, Bruera E
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
J Clin Oncol. 2000 Aug;18(15):2902-7. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.15.2902.
The purpose of this study was to assess the satisfaction and information needs of primary care physicians (PCPs) regarding communication with radiation oncologists (ROs), with respect to patients who receive palliative radiotherapy (RT). A selected objective was to evaluate the agreement between PCPs' expectations and the content of the RO letter sent after completion of RT. PCPs' knowledge of the role of palliative RT and their awareness of available patient support services were also determined.
The PCPs of patients discharged from the Cross Cancer Institute after receiving palliative RT were surveyed using a mail-out questionnaire. Questions regarding communication, RT knowledge, and awareness of support services were asked. The corresponding RO letter was reviewed.
A total of 148 PCPs were identified and were mailed questionnaires, with 114 (77%) responding. Overall, 80% (87 of 109) of PCPs found the RO letter to be useful in patient management. However, there was poor (< 53%) agreement between PCPs' expectations and the actual content of the RO letter. Knowledge of the indications and effectiveness of palliative RT was limited, with PCPs obtaining a median score of 4 of a possible 8. Only 27% (31 of 114) of PCPs were aware of all five of the patient support services listed.
Results show that although the majority of PCPs found the RO letter useful, they believed that the letter lacked important information while containing unnecessary details. Communication between PCPs and ROs needs improvement, especially considering that PCPs seem to have limited knowledge of palliative RT.
本研究旨在评估初级保健医生（PCP）在与放射肿瘤学家（RO）就接受姑息性放疗（RT）的患者进行沟通方面的满意度和信息需求。一个特定目标是评估PCP的期望与放疗结束后发送的RO信件内容之间的一致性。还确定了PCP对姑息性放疗作用的了解以及他们对现有患者支持服务的认知。
对在接受姑息性放疗后从十字癌症研究所出院的患者的PCP进行邮寄问卷调查。询问了有关沟通、放疗知识和支持服务认知的问题。对相应的RO信件进行了审查。
共确定了148名PCP并向其邮寄问卷，114名（77%）做出回应。总体而言，80%（109名中的87名）的PCP认为RO信件对患者管理有用。然而，PCP的期望与RO信件的实际内容之间的一致性较差（<53%）。对姑息性放疗的适应症和有效性的了解有限，PCP在可能的8分中获得的中位数分数为4分。只有27%（114名中的31名）的PCP知晓列出的所有五项患者支持服务。
结果表明，尽管大多数PCP认为RO信件有用，但他们认为信件缺乏重要信息，同时包含不必要的细节。PCP与RO之间的沟通需要改善，特别是考虑到PCP对姑息性放疗的了解似乎有限。
