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Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: The views of GPs

Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: The views of GPs
Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: The views of GPs
Early diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) is a policy priority. However, symptoms are vague, associated with other morbidities, and frequently unrecognised by both patients and general practioners (GPs). This qualitative study, part of a larger mixed methods study, explored GP views regarding the potential for early diagnosis of LC within primary care. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with GPs (n=16) at primary care practices (n=5) across four counties in south England. FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework approach. Four broad themes emerged: patients’ reporting of symptoms; GP response to symptoms; investigating LC, and; potential initiatives for early diagnosis. GPs reported they often required high levels of suspicion to refer patients on to specialist respiratory consultations, and concerns of ‘system overload’ were prevalent. Greater access to more sensitive diagnostic investigations such as computed tomography, was argued for by some, particularly for symptomatic patients with negative chest X-rays. GPs challenged current approaches to promoting earlier diagnosis through national symptom awareness campaigns, arguing instead that interventions targeted at high-risk individuals might be more effective without burdening services already under pressure. Further work is needed to identify primary care patients who might most benefit from such targeted interventions.
0961-5423
Wagland, Richard
16a44dcc-29cd-4797-9af2-41ef87f64d08
Brindle, Lucy
17158264-2a99-4786-afc0-30990240436c
James, Elizabeth
b7e90b5a-da45-4459-ae84-150adc07e988
Moore, Michael
1be81dad-7120-45f0-bbed-f3b0cc0cfe99
Ibanez Esqueda, Ana
b2f479d6-9a2e-46af-8834-55d2f0a73fcc
Corner, Jessica
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Wagland, Richard
16a44dcc-29cd-4797-9af2-41ef87f64d08
Brindle, Lucy
17158264-2a99-4786-afc0-30990240436c
James, Elizabeth
b7e90b5a-da45-4459-ae84-150adc07e988
Moore, Michael
1be81dad-7120-45f0-bbed-f3b0cc0cfe99
Ibanez Esqueda, Ana
b2f479d6-9a2e-46af-8834-55d2f0a73fcc
Corner, Jessica
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa

Wagland, Richard, Brindle, Lucy, James, Elizabeth, Moore, Michael, Ibanez Esqueda, Ana and Corner, Jessica (2017) Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: The views of GPs. European Journal of Cancer Care, 26 (3), [e12704]. (doi:10.1111/ecc.12704).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Early diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) is a policy priority. However, symptoms are vague, associated with other morbidities, and frequently unrecognised by both patients and general practioners (GPs). This qualitative study, part of a larger mixed methods study, explored GP views regarding the potential for early diagnosis of LC within primary care. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with GPs (n=16) at primary care practices (n=5) across four counties in south England. FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework approach. Four broad themes emerged: patients’ reporting of symptoms; GP response to symptoms; investigating LC, and; potential initiatives for early diagnosis. GPs reported they often required high levels of suspicion to refer patients on to specialist respiratory consultations, and concerns of ‘system overload’ were prevalent. Greater access to more sensitive diagnostic investigations such as computed tomography, was argued for by some, particularly for symptomatic patients with negative chest X-rays. GPs challenged current approaches to promoting earlier diagnosis through national symptom awareness campaigns, arguing instead that interventions targeted at high-risk individuals might be more effective without burdening services already under pressure. Further work is needed to identify primary care patients who might most benefit from such targeted interventions.

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Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: The views of GPs - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 6 April 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 May 2017
Published date: May 2017
Organisations: Professional Practice in Health Sciences, Researcher Development, Primary Care & Population Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 408071
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/408071
ISSN: 0961-5423
PURE UUID: 9ff9cd39-1170-4cba-b0be-5b1f8e8e6a34
ORCID for Richard Wagland: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1825-7587
ORCID for Lucy Brindle: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8933-3754
ORCID for Elizabeth James: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9355-0295
ORCID for Michael Moore: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5127-4509

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Date deposited: 11 May 2017 01:02
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:20

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Contributors

Author: Richard Wagland ORCID iD
Author: Lucy Brindle ORCID iD
Author: Elizabeth James ORCID iD
Author: Michael Moore ORCID iD
Author: Ana Ibanez Esqueda
Author: Jessica Corner

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