ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We sought to elicit the perspectives of primary care providers (PCPs) and oncologists regarding their expectations on who should be responsible for diabetes management, as well as communication mode and frequency about diabetes care during cancer treatment. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with PCPs (physicians and nurse practitioners) and oncologists who treat cancer patients with type 2 diabetes. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the qualitative data and identify key themes. RESULTS: Ten PCPs and ten oncologists were interviewed between March and July 2019. Two broad themes emerged from our interviews with PCPs: (1) cancer patients pausing primary care during cancer treatments, and (2) patients with poorer prognoses and advanced cancer. The following theme emerged from our interviews with oncologists: (3) challenges in caring for cancer patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Three common themes emerged from our interviews with both PCPs and oncologists: (4) discomfort with providing care outside of respective specialty, (5) the need to individualize care plans, and (6) lack of communication across primary and oncology care. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that substantial barriers to optimal diabetes management during cancer care exist at the provider level. Interventions prioritizing effective communication and educational resources among PCPs, oncologists, and additional members of the patients' care team should be prioritized to achieve optimal outcomes.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Neoplasms , Oncologists , Physicians, Primary Care , Attitude of Health Personnel , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Humans , Medical Oncology , Neoplasms/therapy , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Cancer patients with comorbid diabetes have a 50% increased risk of all-cause mortality compared with cancer patients without diabetes. Less attention to diabetes management (glucose control, medication adherence, and diabetes self-management behaviors) during active cancer treatment is hypothesized as an explanation for worse outcomes among diabetic cancer patients. The objective of this systematic review is to determine and quantify how a cancer diagnosis impacts diabetes management. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative studies evaluating diabetes management among patients were identified by searching 4 databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Two independent reviewers extracted data and summarized results from eligible studies. Study quality was formally assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-six studies met all inclusion criteria. We observed heterogeneity across studies in terms of study design, sample size, cancer site, type of diabetes management evaluated, and quality. Numerous articles discussed that overall, glucose control, medication adherence, and diabetes self-management behaviors declined following a cancer diagnosis. However, findings were inconsistent across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Although the effects of a cancer diagnosis on diabetes management are mixed, when results across studies were synthesized together, diabetes management appeared to generally decline after a cancer diagnosis. Declines in diabetes management seem to be primarily due to shifts in the priority of care from diabetes management to cancer. A next critical step in this line of work is to identify patient and provider level predictors of better or worse diabetes management to design and test interventions aimed at improving effective diabetes management for cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Medication Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Academic Medical Centers , Comorbidity , Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Humans , Male , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/therapy , Prognosis , Risk Assessment , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
RESUMO A oferta de estágios acadêmico-profissionalizantes é um recurso para reduzir lacunas relacionadas à formação para a atuação no campo de álcool e outras drogas. Apresentam-se reflexões acerca do projeto terapêutico singular (PTS) como tecnologia de cuidado na atenção psicossocial a pessoas com problemas decorrentes do uso de drogas e os seus efeitos da sua adoção na formação de estudantes de Psicologia. A abordagem da família como unidade de cuidado, o estabelecimento de vínculos e o respeito à autonomia foram ressaltados no decorrer do desenvolvimento da experiência de estágio. Nota-se que o ato de cuidar é central para a consolidação de um modelo de atenção contra-hegemônico. Aponta-se ainda a necessidade de aprofundamento na construção teórica acerca do modelo de atenção de usuários de drogas na perspectiva da saúde pública.
RESUMEN La oferta de prácticas académico-profesionalizantes es un recurso para reducir las ausencias relacionadas con la formación para la actuación en el campo de alcohol y otras drogas. Se presentan reflexiones acerca del proyecto terapéutico singular (PTS) como tecnología de atención en la atención psicosocial a personas con problemas derivados del uso de drogas y los efectos de su adopción en la formación de estudiantes de Psicología. El enfoque de la familia como unidad de cuidado, el establecimiento de vínculos y el respeto a la autonomía se resalta en el curso del desarrollo de la experiencia de práctica. Se observa que el acto de cuidar es central para la consolidación de un modelo de atención contra-hegemónico. Se apunta también la necesidad de profundizar en la construcción teórica acerca del modelo de atención de usuarios de drogas en la perspectiva de la salud pública.
ABSTRACT The provision of academic-professional internships is a resource to reduce training-related gaps in the field of alcohol and other drugs. Reflections on the singular therapeutic project (STP) are presented as a healthcare technology in psychosocial care for people with problems due to drug use, as well as its effects on the training of Psychology students. The approach of the family as a unit of care, the establishment of bonds and respect for autonomy were highlighted in the course of the internship experience. It is noted that the act of caring is central to the consolidation of a counter-hegemonic healthcare model. It is also pointed out the need to deepen the theoretical construction about the attention model of drug users from a public health perspective.
