Continuity of Cancer Care: Female Participants’ Report of Healthcare Experiences After Conclusion of Primary Treatment

TL;DR

This study explores the healthcare experiences of female cancer patients in the U.S. after completing treatment, highlighting gaps in continuity and support.

Contribution

The study provides patient-reported insights into post-treatment cancer care continuity and identifies key areas needing improvement.

Findings

Most patients completed treatment as recommended, but some stopped early.

Continuity with primary care providers was lacking, unlike with oncologists.

Financial and employment challenges were commonly reported post-treatment.

Abstract

This study highlights female patients’ experiences with cancer care in the U.S., aiming to improve treatment and support. Among 1224 eligible participants, 57 completed the survey. Most had finished their treatment, with 89% completing it as recommended, though 10% stopped early. While nearly 80% consistently saw the same oncologist, only a third continued seeing the same primary care provider. Patients faced challenges such as employment difficulties (26%), affording medication (21%), and medical bills (15%). The findings emphasize the importance of continuity in care and the need for better financial and employment support during and after treatment. Strengths include consistent oncologist involvement, but gaps in primary care and financial burdens need further attention to enhance patient-centered cancer care.

Background: Understanding patient perceptions of cancer care is crucial for improving treatment experiences and health outcomes. This study explores female patient-reported experiences with cancer care. Our aim was to identify areas for improvement and enhance patient-centered approaches in specialty and primary care settings. Methods: This was a prospective observational study using ResearchMatch. Our eligibility criteria were 40 years or older adult cancer diagnosis, female, and treated for cancer in the United States. Results: Among the eligible participants (n = 1224), 64 responded to the invitation and 57 completed the survey (89% participation proportion). The majority of the respondents were not receiving treatment during the study period (68%). Of those, 89% completed the recommended treatment, and 10% stopped the treatment before completion. Nearly 80% of respondents saw the same oncologist during the treatment at every appointment, and only 8% reported changing clinicians during their primary cancer treatment. Over 63% of respondents were not seeing the same primary care clinician as they did when they were first diagnosed. Respondents reported facing challenges with employment and ability to return to work (26%), being able to afford medication (21%), and paying medical bills (15%). Discussion: This study, albeit for a small number of participants (n = 57) identified strengths and challenges in cancer care. Consistent oncologist involvement and proximity to care centers was consistently reported during active treatment. Discontinuity with primary care, however, may warrant further inquiry. Reported financial, employment and access issues support previous studies that identified these as major challenges during and after active cancer treatment. Our study underscored the need to enhance patient-centered coordination and support to improve cancer and survivorship care outcomes.