Cancer Prognosis

Published Date: 19th July 2016

Publication Authors: Holden JD, Wooff E

Background: 

General practitioners are probably asked regularly about the prognosis for patients with cancer. There is no readily available source of information on the accuracy of their estimates.

Objective: 

To discover studies that have reported general practitioners estimates of prognosis.

Methods: 

A search for studies of estimates of prognosis in terminal cancer by general practitioners.

Results: 

Three papers were discovered, reporting on 836 patients. In only a quarter of patients was prognosis accurately estimated by general practitioners, even within broad limits. Hospital doctors and nurses performed similarly. We suggest considerable scope for further studies in general practice, which should not require sophisticated procedures.

Conclusion: 

Evidence of GP's limited performance in cancer prognostication should push us to do better.

Holden, J; Wooff, E. (2012).  Cancer prognosis by general practitioners . European Journal of General Practice. 18 (2), 114-116

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