General practitioner involvement in follow‐up of childhood cancer survivors: A systematic review. Issue 10 (27th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singer, Sarah; Gianinazzi, Micòl E.; Hohn, Anna; Kuehni, Claudia E.; Michel, Gisela
• Is Part Of: Pediatric blood & cancer. Volume 60:Issue 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1565
• Page End: 1573
• Publication Date: 2013-06-27
• Subjects: Tumors in children -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cancer in children -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24586
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1545-5009

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pbc24586-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>An increasing number of childhood cancer survivors need long‐term follow‐up care. Different models address this problem, including that of follow‐up by general practitioners (GP). We describe models that involve GPs in follow‐up for childhood cancer survivors, their advantages and disadvantages, clinics that employ these models, and the elements essential to high‐quality, GP‐led follow‐up care.</p> </sec> <sec id="pbc24586-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Procedure</title> <p>We searched four databases (PubMed [including Medline], Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL) without language restrictions.</p> </sec> <sec id="pbc24586-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We found 26 publications, which explicitly mentioned GP‐led follow‐up. Two models were commonly described: GP‐only, and shared care between GP and pediatric oncology or late effects clinic. The shared care model appears to have advantages over GP‐only follow‐up. We found four clinics using models of GP‐led follow‐up, described in five papers. We identified well‐organized transition, treatment summary, survivorship care plan, education of GPs and guidelines as necessary components of successful follow‐up.</p> </sec> <sec id="pbc24586-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Scarcity of literature necessitated a review rather than a meta‐analysis. More research on the outcomes of GP‐led care is necessary to confirm the model for follow‐up of childhood cancer survivors in the long term. However, with the necessary elements in place, the model of GP‐led follow‐up, and shared care in particular, holds promise. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1565–1573. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>