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 practitioners (GPs). This qualitative study, part of a larger mixed methods study, explored GP views regarding the potent...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43468/ |
| _version_ | 1848796695282843648 |
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| author | Wagland, R. Brindle, L. James, E. Moore, M. Esqueda, A.I. Corner, Jessica |
| author_facet | Wagland, R. Brindle, L. James, E. Moore, M. Esqueda, A.I. Corner, Jessica |
| author_sort | Wagland, R. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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 practitioners (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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:52:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-43468 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:52:04Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-434682020-05-04T18:46:52Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43468/ Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs Wagland, R. Brindle, L. James, E. Moore, M. Esqueda, A.I. Corner, Jessica 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 practitioners (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. Wiley 2017-05-23 Article PeerReviewed Wagland, R., Brindle, L., James, E., Moore, M., Esqueda, A.I. 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. ISSN 1365-2354 Early diagnosis general practice lung cancer symptom awareness symptoms https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12704 doi:10.1111/ecc.12704 doi:10.1111/ecc.12704 |
| spellingShingle | Early diagnosis general practice lung cancer symptom awareness symptoms Wagland, R. Brindle, L. James, E. Moore, M. Esqueda, A.I. Corner, Jessica Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs |
| title | Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs |
| title_full | Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs |
| title_fullStr | Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs |
| title_short | Facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of GPs |
| title_sort | facilitating early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst primary care patients: the views of gps |
| topic | Early diagnosis general practice lung cancer symptom awareness symptoms |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43468/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43468/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43468/ |