WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW BREAST-CANCER

OBJECTIVE To identify the experience and willingness of family physici ans to accept follow-up care of patients treated for stage I breast ca ncer. DESIGN Mailed questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS One hundred eighty-nin e family physicians in southwestern Ontario with oversampling of femal e physicians and physicians practising more than 20 km from a cancer c linic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Willingness to follow breast cancer patien ts and time after treatment family physicians would be willing to begi n follow-up care. RESULTS We had an 81.5% response rate. Of the 154 re spondents, 53% had been involved previously in the 5-year, follow-up c are of a patient with breast cancer and 77.1% believed it appropriate for family physicians to assume responsibility for follow-up care in a ll or most cases. If asked by a patient, the family, or an oncologist to provide follow-up care, 90.1% of family physicians reported they wo uld accept this responsibility. Willingness to follow breast cancer pa tients was not associated with sex, years in practice, proximity to a cancer clinic, or certification status but was associated with having previously provided such care (P=.043). Of those willing to care for t hese patients, almost 90% would prefer to start within 1 year of treat ment. CONCLUSION Although only half the respondents had experience in providing follow-up care to breast cancer patients, most were willing to take on this role, especially if asked.