The Role of General Practitioners in Cancer Care: A Mixed Method Design Kadri Suija 1 & Tanel Kordemets 1 & Kadi Annuk 1 & Ruth Kalda 1 # American Association for Cancer Education 2015 Abstract The aims of this study were to identify the current role of general practitioners (GP) and the unmet needs of cancer patients in primary care. First, we conducted individual interviews with 10 cancer patients. Next, we developed a questionnaire, which was distributed among cancer patients across Estonia. Altogether, 113 questionnaires were returned. We observed that while the patients were satisfied with their GP’ s work, they mostly preferred to discuss cancer-related problems with oncologists. The role of GPs in regard to other diseases was perceived as very important, also patients found it relevant to consult all investigations with their primary health care physician. The main problems experienced by the patients were a lack of proper accessible information about their disease and its inadequate presentation by doctors, as well as problems with coordination between primary and sec- ondary health care providers. In conclusion, we can say that even treatment of cancer is centralised to oncology clinics, patients also contact their GPs during cancer care. Therefore, GPs should be aware of patients’ general health and comorbid medical problems. Better communication between primary and secondary health care doctors as well as more integration of GPs in cancer care is needed. Keywords Primary health care . Family practise . General practitioners . Cancer care . Patient education . Continuity of care . Managed care Introduction Nowadays, care of cancer patients is largely centralised to oncology clinics. As treatment is long-term, patients can re- main out of the general practitioners’ (GP) focus for several months or even years. On the other hand, studies have shown that GPs themselves are keen to be involved in cancer care, for example by sharing information and clinical advice, by en- couraging the patient and by providing palliative care [1, 2]. According to previous research, cancer patients find it impor- tant that their GP acknowledges their cancer diagnosis and treatment [3, 4]. However, there are also barriers to GPs’ in- volvement in cancer care, such as lack of expertise, time lim- itations, lack of care continuity and insufficient integration of primary and secondary care [3, 5–7]. Primary health care is provided in Estonia by GPs (called family doctors), and every citizen has the possibility to choose his or her own GP. The first medical specialist contacted for most health problems is usually the GP. Due to the gate-keeping function of GPs, patients require a referral in order to have access without charge to most other medical specialists, includ- ing oncologists [8, 9]. Every GP is responsible for the patients on their list, who can number between 1200 and 2400. Accord- ing to the data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancer incidence in Estonia in 2012 was about 250 new cases per 100 000 population (age-standardised rate) [10]. Currently, the role of the patients and their interactions with health care providers are emphasised, especially regarding patients with chronic illnesses [11]. Careful assessment of patients’ needs, both met and unmet, is definitely essential for optimising care. Therefore, studies dealing with patients’ experiences are of the utmost importance. The aims of this study were to identify the current role of GPs in cancer care and the unmet needs of cancer patients in primary care. * Kadri Suija kadri.suija@ut.ee 1 Department of Family Medicine, University of Tartu, Puusepa 1a- 2120, 50406 Tartu, Estonia J Canc Educ DOI 10.1007/s13187-015-0834-z