Family Medicine Physician Understanding and Management of Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care: A National Assessment.

This article focuses on assessing United States family medicine physicians' (FMPs) awareness, understanding, and confidence in following head and neck cancer (HNC) survivorship guidelines issued by the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) and American Medical Association (AMA). A national survey of 86 mostly attending FMPs revealed low awareness (8.1%) of updated survivorship guidelines and variable knowledge of key survivorship issues, including mental health risks, thyroid dysfunction, and sexual health. While physicians expressed confidence in counseling on substance use cessation and screening for thyroid dysfunction, they reported low confidence in managing long-term effects of HNC treatments. The study highlights the critical role of FMPs in HNC survivorship care and underscores the need for enhanced education and resources to improve guideline adherence and patient quality of life.