Results relating to primary care consultations.
| Study details | Number of patient contacts with primary care | Frequency of patient contact with primary care |
|---|---|---|
| Holtedahl et al, 2005.31 Cancer site: multiple sites. Length of follow-up: 6 months. Sample size: Int n = 41, H n = 50 | Number of consultations with GP — patient reported: Int 13 (n = 31) versus H 28 (n = 46); (RR 0.69, 95% CI = 0.43 to 1.11) | Frequency of GP consultations — reported by GPs: mean number of consultations in the intervention group was 1.68 (ranged 0–8); number of patients not stated. Data for control group not reported. Mean number of consultations — patient reported: Int 1.26 (n = 31; range 1–7 per patient) versus H 1.04 (n = 46; range 1–5 per patient) |
| Johansson et al, 2001.32 Cancer site: multiple site. Length of follow-up: 6 months since diagnosis. Sample size: Int n = 260, H n = 250 | Contact with home-care nurse — patient reported: Int 86 (n = 203) versus H 11 (n = 178); P<0.05, χ2 test (RR 6.86, 95% CI = 3.78 to 12.42) | Contact with home-care nurse — patient reported: frequency of contact with nurse was greater in the intervention group than control (number of patientsnot stated; P<0.001, Mann–Whitney U test) |
| Nielsen et al, 2003.33 Cancer site: multiple site. Length of follow-up: 6 months since diagnosis. Sample size: Int n = 121, H n = 127 | Contact with GP — patient reported: Int 46 (n = 77) versus H 40 (n = 91); P = 0.046, χ2 test (RR 1.36, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.83) | — |
| Brown et al, 2002.35 Cancer site: breast. Length of follow-up: 12 months. Sample size: n = 62; PI 30, H 31 (one patient did not return questionnaires) | Breast-related GP referral (to hospital): PI 4 versus H 3; (RR 1.38, 95% CI = 0.34 to 5.64) | — |
| Gulliford et al, 1997.36 Cancer site: breast. Length of follow-up: median 16 months. Sample size: n =193; PI 97, H 96 | — | Total number of GP visits — patient reported (number of visits/patient not reported): PI 53 (4 cancer related) versus H 53 (7 cancer related) |
| Kjeldsen et al, 1999.37 Cancer site: colorectal. Length of follow-up: not stated. Sample size: n = 320; PI 161, H 159. Data based on a subgroup of 50 patients who were included in a RCT of frequent versus virtually no follow-up during 1983–199447 | — | Median number of GP visits — patient reported: data on GP visits based on a random sample of 50 patients selected from the two intervention groups, PI 4 (n = 24) versus H 2 (n = 26), P = 0.33, Mann–Whitney U test (no visit due to symptom problem) |
H = routine hospital follow-up group. Int = intervention group. PI = patient-initiated. RCT = randomised controlled trial. RR = relative risk.