PC4: developing cancer research in primary careJon EmeryProfessor of General Practice, University of Western Australia.Director of PC4

Overview•Cancer and primary care•What is PC4?•What types of research do we do?•Consumer involvement•What can PC4 do for you?

Cancer incidence in Australia (2003)

Site Total % of total Risk to age 75

Male

Prostate 13,526 26.3 1 in 9Colorectal 6,857 13.3 1 in 18Melanoma 5,535 10.8 1 in 24Lung 5,281 10.3 1 in 25

Female

Breast 11,788 28.2 1 in 11Colorectal 5,679 13.6 1 in 27Melanoma 3,989 9.5 1 in 34Lung 2,968 7.1 1 in 49

•Important role in prevention and screening

•80% of cancers present in general practice

•In practice population of 10,000 in 1 year:▫195 skin cancers▫45 other cancers (6 breast, 4 lung)

•Challenges of symptomatic diagnosis▫Most symptoms of cancer have a more

common benign cause

Cancer in primary care

Cancer in primary care

Brian R. McAvoy. MJA.2007;187:115-117

•80% of cancers present in general practice•In practice population of 10,000 in 1 year:

▫195 skin cancers▫45 other cancers (6 breast, 4 lung)

•Challenges of symptomatic diagnosis▫Most symptoms of cancer have a more common

benign cause•Role in follow-up?

▫Average 10 visits to GP in 1st year after diagnosis of breast cancer

▫Role of primary care team in promoting wellbeing

Cancer in primary care

The primary care cancer research agenda

•Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group

What is PC4?

What is PC4?

•Aims to increase the quantity and quality of Australian primary care cancer research

•Build capacity to conduct primary care cancer research

•Focus on development and trials of interventions to improve cancer care in Australia

•Potential for large scale studies to answer the big questions

What is PC4?

What is PC4?

The ProCare Trial: shared care for follow-up in prostate cancer •Jon Emery•Penny Schofield•Michael Jefford•Dickon Hayne•Marie Pirotta•Lyndal Trevena•Andrew Martin•Roger Constable

BMJ 2007;334: 445-459 Campbell, Murray, Darbyshire, Emery et al

•Consumer representation on▫PC4 Executive▫PC4 Scientific Working Groups▫Some specific trials

•Joint Consumer Advisory Group (with PoCoG)

•Input into design, outcome measures, ethics and implications of results.

Consumer involvement in PC4

What can PC4 do for you?•Concept development workshops

▫Support to develop new project▫Identify potential collaborators

•PC4 research support▫Advice on study design issues and funding

sources▫Access to Clinical Trials Development Unit

Biostatistics Health economics

•Network of researchers with shared interests•PC4 fellowship scheme

www.pc4tg.com.au