How do colorectal cancer patients rate their GP: a mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• General Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• New Zealand faces high colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and low early diagnosis rates.
• General practice is crucial for CRC diagnosis due to the absence of nationwide screening.
• Patient-GP relationship quality influences diagnostic timeliness, with breakdowns leading to delays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient-reported confidence and ratings of their general practitioner (GP) after a colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis.
• To identify factors contributing to delayed CRC diagnosis in New Zealand.

Main Methods:

• Mixed methods analysis of questionnaires and free-text comments from 195 (questionnaire) and 113 (free text) newly diagnosed CRC patients.
• Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis for quantitative data.
• Thematic framework analysis for qualitative free-text comments.

Main Results:

• Most patients rated their GP positively for communication and involvement.
• 6.7% reported no confidence or trust in their GP.
• Lower confidence/trust linked to age, gender, ethnicity, and longer diagnostic intervals. Key themes: GP interpersonal skills, technical competence, and practice organization.

Conclusions:

• Māori, females, and younger patients reported lower GP confidence and trust.
• Poor diagnostic experiences linked to GP interpersonal/technical deficits and health system factors.
• Short appointments, access issues, and poor GP continuity negatively impact patient experience and equitable access for Māori.