Healthcare practices that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories from a general practice perspective: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective

General practice plays an important role in cancer trajectories, and cancer patients request the continuous involvement of general practice. The objective of this scoping review was to identify healthcare practices that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories from a general practice perspective.

Design, setting, and subjects

A scoping review of the literature published in Danish or English from 2010 to 2020 was conducted. Data was collected using identified keywords and indexed terms in several databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCO CINAHL, Scopus, and ProQuest), contacting key experts, searching through reference lists, and reports from selected health political, research- and interest organizations’ websites.

Main outcome measures

We identified healthcare practices in cancer trajectories that increase quality care. Identified healthcare practices were grouped into four contextual domains and allocated to defined phases in the cancer trajectory. The results are presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR).

Results

A total of 45 peer-reviewed and six non-peer-reviewed articles and reports were included. Quality of care increases in all phases of the cancer trajectory when GPs listen carefully to the full story and use action plans. After diagnosis, quality of care increases when GPs and practice staff have a proactive care approach, act as interpreters of diagnosis, treatment options, and its consequences, and engage in care coordination with specialists in secondary care involving the patient.

Conclusion

This scoping review identified healthcare practices that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories from a general practice perspective. The results support general practice in investigating own healthcare practices and identifying possibilities for quality improvement.

KEY POINTS

• Identified healthcare practices in general practice that increase the quality of care in cancer trajectories:

• Listen carefully to the full story

• Use action plans and time-out-consultations

• Plan and provide proactive care

• Act as an interpreter of diagnosis, treatment options, and its consequences for the patient

• Coordinate care with specialists, patients, and caregivers with mutual respect

• Identified barriers for quality of care in cancer trajectories are:

• Time constraints in consultations

• Limited accessibility for patients and caregivers

• Health practices to increase the quality of care should be effective, safe, people-centered, timely, equitable, integrated, and efficient. These distinctions of quality of care, support general practice in investigating and improving quality of care in cancer trajectories.