Abstract
Objective: This study investigated survivors' reports of primary care physicians' (PCPs) involvement in three key cancer survivorship activities: discussing cancer history, whether the PCP initiated discussions, and whether discussions led to tests/procedures. Method: The sample included 215 older survivors whose health care was maintained in primary care. Logistic regression explored predictors of the three activities, including demographics, cancer characteristics, survivor/PCP association characteristics, health characteristics, and psychosocial well-being. Results: Nearly two thirds of survivors indicated discussing cancer history; most said discussions were PCP initiated and nearly half said discussions resulted in tests/procedures. Predictors of discussing cancer history were African American race and more comorbid conditions. PCP-initiated discussions were related to older age, surviving breast cancer, more years in the PCP's practice, and having less general health worry. The tests/procedures model was not significant. Conclusions: As older survivors focused more on other health concerns, PCPs remained attentive to cancer issues, prompting discussions about history and ordering tests.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 673-686 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Aging and Health |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- cancer care
- long-term survivorship
- older survivors
- primary care physicians
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Sociology and Political Science
- Life-span and Life-course Studies