Barriers to effective communication across the primary/secondary interface: examples from the ovarian cancer patient journey (a qualitative study)

Abstract

Effective communication across the primary/secondary interface is vital for the planning and delivery of appropriate patient care throughout the cancer patient journey. This study describes GPs' views of the communication issues across the primary/secondary interface in relation to ovarian cancer patients using qualitative interviews with purposively sampled general practitioners (GPs) and an audit of hospital medical records of 30 deceased ovarian cancer patients. Issues raised by the GPs related to the content and format of communications, but of most concern was the tardiness. The time lag between dictation and typing letters ranged from 0 to 27 days, with a delay of up to 8 days for sign..