Increasing challenges of general practitioner-oncologist interaction in end-of-life communication: a qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• General Practice

Background:

• End-of-life (EOL) conversations are crucial for advanced cancer patients, as recommended by oncological guidelines.
• General practitioners (GPs) are key in coordinating EOL-care and initiating these conversations.
• Communication between GPs and oncology specialists regarding EOL-conversation content is often lacking, hindering palliative care integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore GPs' perspectives on initiating and conducting EOL-conversations in metastatic lung cancer patients.
• To understand GPs' perceptions of their interaction with oncologists at a cancer center.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design.
• In-depth interviews with GPs referring patients with metastatic lung cancer to a cancer center.
• Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's methodology.

Main Results:

• Identified themes: timing/conduction of EOL-conversations, influencing factors, and GP-oncologist interaction modes.
• Significant challenges exist in communication strategies and procedures between GPs and oncologists.
• Difficulties in keeping pace with oncological advances and increasing prognostic uncertainty complicate EOL-communication.

Conclusions:

• Modern oncology's complexity necessitates improved GP-oncologist interaction strategies, including information on therapeutic advances and prognosis.
• Increasing prognostic uncertainty jeopardizes adequate EOL-conversations and timely palliative care integration.
• Encouraging trustful personal interaction, such as direct phone calls between GPs and oncologists, is recommended.