Let’s talk about work: pilot study of an education program on discussing work participation with cancer patients for general practitioners in training

TL;DR

A pilot study shows that training general practitioners to discuss work participation with cancer patients increases their awareness and likelihood of addressing employment issues.

Contribution

A new education program for GPs in training was developed and evaluated to address work participation discussions with cancer patients.

Findings

81% of GPs in training found the education program suitable for curriculum implementation.

86% of participants planned to discuss work participation more often after the program.

67% applied their new knowledge in practice by referring patients to occupational health resources.

Abstract

Cancer patients report that they lack support from healthcare providers when it comes to returning to or maintaining employment. In the education of general practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands, there is little attention given to discussing work participation with patients. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate a newly developed education program for GPs in training that focuses on discussing work participation with cancer patients.

Two groups of in total twenty-one GPs in training participated in the education program. GPs were educated about the importance of discussing work participation with patients, work-related problems cancer patients can experience, and advice they can give to support cancer patients regarding work issues. In this pilot study using a mixed-method design, participants evaluated the program in two self-developed questionnaires and in a focus group discussion.

Seventeen participating GPs (81%) indicated that the education program was suitable for implementation in the education curriculum. Eleven participants (52%) reported that they had never discussed work participation with cancer patients before. Directly after the education program, eighteen participants (86%) reported that they planned to discuss work participation more often with their patients. Four months after the program, 67% indicated they had applied their new knowledge and skills in practice by discussing work participation and by referring cancer patients to occupational health professionals or online resources. According to the GPs in training, integrating the topic of work participation into other education for GPs in training and focusing on a broader group of patients could improve the impact of the education program.

According to the results of this pilot study, the newly developed education program increased the awareness of GPs in training on the importance of discussing work participation with cancer patients. Future studies should focus on whether cancer patients experience more support from their GPs for maintaining and returning to employment after their GP has participated in the training program.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-024-05705-7.