Table 2.
Mean scores on variables for Comprehensive Care, Coordination of Care, and Personal Relationships over Time for Primary Care Providers and Oncologists – Overall and by cancer type.
| Overall | Breast Cancer Survivors | Prostate Cancer Survivors | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCP | ONC | PCP | ONC | PCP | ONC | ||
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |||||
| Comprehensive Care |
This doctor handles emergencies. | 3.79 (0.90) | 3.75 (1.02) | 3.79 (0.92) | 3.76 (1.04) | 3.78 (0.87) | 3.71 (0.97) |
| This doctor takes care of almost any medical problem I may have. |
4.02 (0.88) | 3.24 (1.25)‡ | 4.03 (0.90) | 3.26 (1.26)‡ | 4.01 (0.86) | 3.18 (1.21)‡ | |
| I go to this doctor to care for ongoing medical problems. |
4.15 (0.90) | 3.05 (1.37)‡ | 4.18 (0.87) | 3.12 (1.38)‡ | 4.11 (0.96) | 2.88 (1.36)‡ | |
| I go to this doctor for a checkup to prevent illness. |
4.29 (0.82) | 3.44 (1.38)‡ | 4.30 (0.79) | 3.51 (1.42)‡ | 4.27 (0.87) | 3.26 (1.28)‡ | |
| Coordination of Care | This doctor keeps track of all my health care. | 4.25 (0.86) | 3.66 (1.22)‡ | 4.28 (0.82) | 3.82 (1.16)‡ | 4.19 (0.94) | 3.21 (1.27)‡ |
| This doctor follows up on a problem I’ve had, either at the next visit or by mail, e-mail, or phone. |
3.99 (1.02) | 3.91 (1.10) | 3.99 (1.00) | 3.99 (1.05) | 3.98 (1.07) | 3.68 (1.20)* | |
| This doctor follows up on my visit to other health care professionals. |
3.75 (1.15) | 3.61 (1.19) | 3.73 (1.15) | 3.73 (1.15) | 3.79 (1.15) | 3.28 (1.24)‡ | |
| This doctor helps me interpret my laboratory tests, x-rays, or visits to other doctors. |
4.01 (0.97) | 4.02 (1.05) | 4.04 (0.97) | 4.16 (0.98) | 3.95 (0.96) | 3.62 (1.13)† | |
| This doctor communicates with other health professionals I see. |
3.56 (1.11) | 3.74 (1.08)† | 3.49 (1.14) | 3.86 (1.03)‡ | 3.7 (1.02) | 3.43 (1.14)† | |
| Personal Relationship Over Time | This doctor knows a lot about my family medical history. |
3.91(1.04) | 3.86 (1.07) | 3.94 (1.05) | 4.10 (0.91) | 3.87 (1.04) | 3.18 (1.21)‡ |
| This doctor and I have been through a lot together. |
3.48 (1.24) | 3.83 (1.18)‡ | 3.38 (1.30) | 4.05 (1.08)‡ | 3.67 (1.11) | 3.22 (1.25) | |
| This doctor understands what is important to me regarding my health. |
4.04 (0.88) | 4.25 (0.82)† | 4.01 (0.94) | 4.37 (0.71)‡ | 4.10 (0.75) | 3.90 (0.99)† | |
| This doctor knows my medical history very well. |
4.13 (0.85) | 4.12 (0.93) | 4.1 (0.89) | 4.29 (0.86)* | 4.18 (0.76) | 3.63 (0.94)‡ | |
| This doctor takes my beliefs and wishes into account in caring for me. |
4.13 (0.82) | 4.27 (0.79) | 4.17 (0.84) | 4.41 (0.70)† | 4.06 (0.80) | 3.88 (0.91)* | |
| This doctor knows whether or not I exercise, eat right, smoke, or drink alcohol. |
4.20 (0.82) | 4.11 (0.89)* | 4.2 (0.82) | 4.23 (0.83) | 4.20 (0.83) | 3.76 (0.99)‡ | |
| This doctor knows me well as a person (such as hobbies, job, etc). |
3.48 (1.21) | 3.41 (1.15) | 3.38 (1.27) | 3.48 (1.19) | 3.69 (1.07) | 3.22 (1.01)† | |
*
P<.05 comparing PCP to ONC;
†
P<.01 comparing PCP to ONC;
‡
P<.001 comparing PCP to ONC
Scores ranged from 1-strongly disagree to 5-strongly agree.
Abbreviations: PCP=Primary Care Provider; ONC=Oncologist.