Mariken Stegmann

Abstract Cancer care is complex and involves many different healthcare providers, especially during  diagnosis and initial treatment, and it has been reported that both general practitioners and  oncology specialists experience difficulties with interdisciplinary communication. The aim of  this qualitative study was to explore information sharing between primary and secondary  care for patients with lung, breast or colorectal cancer. A qualitative content analysis of 50  medical files (419 documents) was performed, which identified 70 correspondence‐related  items. Six main topics were identified in most referral letters from primary to secondary  care, but it was particularly notable that highly relevant information regarding the past  medical history was often mixed with less relevant information. To lesser extents, the same  held true for the medication list and presenting history. In the letters from specialists, nine  topics were identified in most letters. Although information about actual treatment was  always present, only limited detail, if any, was given about the intent of the treatment  (curative or palliative) or the treatment alternatives. Interviews with nine healthcare  providers confirmed these issues. These findings indicate that neither the initial referral nor  the specialist correspondence is tailored to the needs of the recipient. 66 Chapter 6