[General practitioners' knowledge of anticancer immunotherapies and their adverse effects: A cross-sectional survey]

Cancer remains the leading cause of mortality in France. The rise of anticancer immunotherapies improves patient prognosis but carries a risk of immune-related adverse events. The increasing role of general practitioners in patient follow-up raises questions about their knowledge and confidence in managing these effects.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among general practitioners identified through the REISAMIC registry at the Institut Gustave Roussy. A questionnaire assessing knowledge of immunotherapies, familiarity with adverse effects, and clinical experience was mailed between October 2019 and November 2020. Responses were analyzed according to practice setting (urban/rural), type of practice (alone/in group) and year of installation.

Among 507 questionnaires sent, 136 responses were collected. Most general practitioners (80 %) rated their knowledge of immunotherapies and their adverse effects as insufficient. More than 90 % had already managed at least one patient treated with immunotherapy, and 38 % had handled an adverse effect. Nearly 40 % reported being "not at all comfortable" with this management. Differences according to year of installation and practice setting were minimal. Almost all participants (96 %) wished to receive additional information on these treatments.

These findings reveal a deficit in knowledge and confidence among general practitioners exposed to anticancer immunotherapies. Although collected in 2019-2020, these data provide a reference baseline at a pivotal period, prior to major evolutions in the digital medical ecosystem. They emphasize the need for targeted training and improved hospital-community coordination to secure patient management and strengthen confidence among healthcare professionals and patients.