Oncological follow-up care in digital era: communication complexities between primary and speciality care physicians

Together with the global increase in actual and estimated cancer incidents and survival rates, the relevance of efficient follow-up care is rising. The digitalization of healthcare entails new expectations in oncological follow-up care for primary and speciality care physicians, but there is often a lack of clarity in care coordination, knowledge, and communication between them. This article aims to analyse the challenges and opportunities of oncological care that support or hinder effective communication in follow-up care.

Data was collected using a qualitative approach, namely in-depth semi-structured interviews. A sample of 17 healthcare professionals, including speciality and primary care physicians, was formed. Inductive and deductive thematic analysis were used for data analysis. All relevant ethical approvals were obtained.

Findings showed that digital communication between primary and speciality care physicians facilitates faster communication and more optimal patient referrals between care levels. However, a lack of interoperability, delays in discharge summaries, and the absence of unified guidelines and a systemic approach to digital communication may hinder the efficiency of follow-up care. These challenges represent key areas for improvement.

With the support of primary care physicians, there is potential to improve oncological follow-up care. Yet, unified understandings, guidelines and further improvements in the collaboration of two healthcare levels, especially regarding digital communication and systemic approaches in the implementation, are crucial.