# Understanding Colorectal Cancer Patient Experiences with Family Practitioners in Canada

## TL;DR

This study explores how Canadian colorectal cancer patients experienced care with their family doctors before and after diagnosis, highlighting gaps in awareness and communication.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific gaps in CRC patient care and proposes patient-centred improvements to address disparities and enhance early detection.

## Key findings

- 40.6% of patients were unaware of key aspects of CRC before diagnosis, such as symptoms and screening.
- Only 17.7% were diagnosed by their family physician, and younger patients faced higher rates of misdiagnosis and dismissal.
- Half of the patients felt fully informed about their diagnosis, and 53.1% received explanations in plain language.

## Abstract

Despite ongoing screening efforts, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of death in Canada. The aim of this study was to better understand the experiences of Canadian CRC patients with their family practitioners (FPs) during and after their CRC diagnosis. Patient-reported data were collected through an online questionnaire to understand their CRC diagnosis experiences and identify potential gaps in care. Various factors contributing to challenges throughout a patient’s CRC diagnosis (e.g., delayed CRC diagnosis) were determined using descriptive, qualitative, and inferential analyses. These factors could be targeted to optimize CRC care. This study found that 40.6% of the 175 respondents were unaware of at least one of the following aspects of CRC prior to their diagnosis: early-age onset (EAO), symptoms, and screening procedures. While 84.6% had access to a family physician (FP) before their diagnosis, only 17.7% were diagnosed by FPs. Higher proportions of younger individuals experienced misdiagnoses and felt dismissed compared to older individuals. Only half felt fully informed about their diagnosis when it was explained to them by their FP, while 53.1% had their diagnosis explained in plain language. Transitioning towards patient-centred care would promote pre-diagnosis CRC awareness, address differences in management of CRC care (e.g., dismissal and support), and accommodate for age and health-literacy-related disparities, thereby improving CRC care pathways for patients. Future research should investigate FPs experiences in detecting CRC cases to develop educational resources and recommendations, enhancing early detection and improving patient outcomes (1).