A survey in Puglia: the attitudes and opinions of specialists, general physicians and patients on follow-up practice. G.S.Bio.Ca.M.

BACKGROUND: The follow-up for breast cancer patients is a well established routine practice requiring the organization and coordination of many professional figures and a large expenditure of national health funds. To study the problems in practical clinical management of such a complicated health program in a typical population, a questionnaire survey of the opinions and attitudes of specialists, general practitioners and patients directly involved in clinical follow-up was performed in the Puglia region of Southern Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A representative sample of specialists (n = 285), general practitioners (n = 263) and patients (n = 284) involved in the management of follow-up practice for breast cancer in Puglia received different questionnaires to ascertain their behaviour, attitudes, opinions, perception of the disease and the organizational requirements for treatment. A total of 57.4% of questionnaires were returned. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The most important results were: (a) about one-third of cases complained of difficulties in follow-up management due to the lack of cooperation and integration of follow-up procedures among specialists; (b) the general practitioners preferred to have a more active role in follow-up; (c) the patients reported that being managed by more than one physician or living far from follow-up facilities resulted in an inferior quality of life.