Assessing post-radiotherapy handover notes from a family physician perspective

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Communication
• Primary Care

Background:

• Post-radiotherapy (rt) handover notes are crucial for family physicians (fps) managing patient care after treatment.
• Previous feedback indicated a need for enhanced information in these handover notes.
• A revised note was developed incorporating requested details to improve its utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate whether a revised post-radiotherapy handover note enhances communication between radiation oncologists and family physicians.
• To assess the impact of added information on the perceived effectiveness of the handover note as a communication aid.

Main Methods:

• A revised handover note, including potential treatment side effects, oncologist contact information, and treatment intent, was created.
• Both the original and revised notes were distributed to family physicians with a questionnaire.
• Paired t-tests were used to compare satisfaction levels between the two versions.

Main Results:

• The revised note demonstrated significantly improved clarity regarding responsibility for patient follow-up, follow-up schedules, and oncologist contact procedures.
• Family physicians reported higher satisfaction with the transition of care back to them.
• Overall satisfaction with the revised note was significantly greater than the previous version.

Conclusions:

• Key additions, including treatment side effects, oncologist contact details, and a clear follow-up schedule, are essential for effective post-radiotherapy handover notes.
• The revised note represents a significant improvement in communication for family physicians managing patients post-radiation therapy.