Heidi Lidal Fidjeland

• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Vistad, Ingvild; Gjelstad, Svein & Brekke, Mette (2019). Exploring why patients with cancer consult general practitioners: A 1-year data extraction. British Journal of General Practice Open. 3(4), s. 1–9. doi: 10.3399/BJGPOPEN19X101663. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Survival rates of patients with cancer are increasing owing to improvements in diagnostics and therapies. The traditional hospital-based follow-up model faces challenges because of the consequent increasing workload, and it has been suggested that selected patients with cancer could be followed up by GPs. The hypothesis of the study was that, regardless of the hospital-based follow-up care, GPs see their patients with cancer both for cancer-related problems as well as for other reasons. Thus, a formalised follow-up by GPs would not mean too large a change in GPs’ workloads. Aim To explore to what extent patients with cancer consult their GPs, and for what reasons. Design & setting A 1-year explorative study was undertaken, based on data from 91 Norwegian GPs from 2016–2017. Method The data were electronically extracted from GPs' electronic medical records (EMR). Results Data were collected from 91 GPs. There were 11 074 consultations in total, generated by 1932 patients with cancer. The mean consultation rate was higher among the patients with cancer compared with Norwegian patients in general. In one-third of the consultations, cancer was the main diagnosis. Apart from cancer, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diagnoses were common. Patients with cancer who had multiple diagnoses or psychological diagnoses did not consult their GP significantly more often than patients with cancer without such comorbidity. Conclusion This study confirms that patients with cancer consult their GP more often than other patients, both for cancer-related reasons and for various comorbidities. A formalised follow-up by GPs would probably be feasible, and GPs should prepare for this responsibility.

• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Brekke, Mette; Stokstad, Trine & Vistad, Ingvild (2018). Gynecological cancer patients' attitudes toward follow-up care after cancer treatment: Do preferences reflect patients' experience? A cross-sectional questionnaire study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. ISSN 0001-6349. 97(11), s. 1325–1331. doi: 10.1111/aogs.13396. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Introduction Due to an increasing number of cancer patients, new follow‐up models are being debated, among them follow‐up by general practitioners. Before changing surveillance, it is important to explore patients’ views. The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes toward follow‐up care among patients treated for gynecological cancer who had not yet started a follow‐up regimen, with those who had been attending a hospital‐based follow‐up regimen for more than one year. Material and methods We conducted a cross‐sectional survey among gynecological cancer patients recruited from three Norwegian hospitals in 2013‐2015: Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal and St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim. Results In all, 239 patients agreed to participate, 100 who had not yet started follow‐up and 139 who had been attending more than one year of follow‐up. Patients reported that they preferred to be followed up by a gynecologist rather than by their GP, whom they viewed as less competent for this purpose. However, patients who had not yet started follow‐up were more willing to be followed up by a GP. Overall, patients rated detection of recurrence as the most important aspect of follow‐up visits. Conclusions The gynecological cancer patients in our study preferred a hospital‐based follow‐up model. However, patients who had not yet started follow‐up were more willing to be followed up by a GP. If follow‐up is to be provided by GPs for selected patients, it is important that these patients are informed early of the value and limitations of follow‐up visits, to ensure that they feel safe.

• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Brekke, Mette & Vistad, Ingvild (2015). General practitioners’ attitudes toward follow-up after cancer treatment: A cross-sectional questionnaire study. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. ISSN 0281-3432. 33(4), s. 223–232. doi: 10.3109/02813432.2015.1118836. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objective An increasing number of cancer patients place a significant workload on hospital outpatient clinics, and health authorities are considering alternative follow-up regimens. It has been suggested that follow-up of cancer patients could be provided by GPs. This study aimed to explore GPs’ experiences with the provision of follow-up care for cancer patients, and their views on assuming greater responsibility in the future. Design Electronic questionnaire study. Subjects GPs in seven regions in Norway. Results A total of 317 GPs responded. Many GPs reported experience in providing follow-up care to cancer patients, during the years following initial diagnosis primarily in collaboration with hospital specialists. More than half of the GPs were satisfied with their collaboration. Most GPs preferred to be involved at an early stage in follow-up care and, generally, GPs felt confident in their skills to provide this type of service. Fewer than 10% were willing to assume responsibility for additional cancer patients, citing potentially increased workload as the main reason. Conclusions GPs acknowledged the importance of providing follow-up care to cancer patients, and the majority felt confident in their own ability to provide such care. However, they were hesitant to assume greater responsibility primarily due to fears of increased workload.

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• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Gjelstad, Svein; Vistad, Ingvild & Brekke, Mette (2019). Do cancer patients consult their general practitioners, and why? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Brekke, Mette & Vistad, Ingvild (2016). Gynecological cancer survivors’ views on follow-up after cancer treatment. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Vistad, Ingvild & Brekke, Mette (2016). Gynecological cancer survivors`views on follow-up after cancer treatment. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Brekke, Mette & Vistad, Ingvild (2015). Gynecological cancer patients’ views on follow-up after cancer treatment. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Vistad, Ingvild & Brekke, Mette (2014). General practitioners’ experiences with and attitudes to cancer follow-up. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal; Vistad, Ingvild & Brekke, Mette (2013). Fastlegers erfaring med og holdninger til oppfølging av kreftpasienter med vekt på samhandling. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Fosse, Anette; Austad, Bjarne; Eid, John-Tore; Bell, Hege Therese; Brænd, Anja Maria Lyche & Fidjeland, Heidi Lidal [Vis alle 14 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2013). Primærhelsetjenesten - fremtidens forskningsfront. s. 20–21. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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