How European primary care practitioners think the timeliness of cancer diagnosis can be improved: a thematic analysis. Issue 9 (24th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harris, Michael; Thulesius, Hans; Neves, Ana Luísa; Harker, Sophie; Koskela, Tuomas; Petek, Davorina; Hoffman, Robert; Brekke, Mette; Buczkowski, Krzysztof; Buono, Nicola; Costiug, Emiliana; Dinant, Geert-Jan; Foreva, Gergana; Jakob, Eva; Marzo-Castillejo, Mercè; Murchie, Peter; Sawicka-Powierza, Jolanta; Schneider, Antonius; Smyrnakis, Emmanouil; Streit, Sven; Taylor, Gordon; Vedsted, Peter; Weltermann, Birgitta; Esteva, Magdalena
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 9:Issue 9(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09-24
• Subjects: Delivery of Health Care -- Primary Health Care -- General Practitioners -- Cancer -- Diagnosis -- Consultation and Referral; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Background: National European cancer survival rates vary widely. Prolonged diagnostic intervals are thought to be a key factor in explaining these variations. Primary care practitioners (PCPs) frequently play a crucial role during initial cancer diagnosis; their knowledge could be used to improve the planning of more effective approaches to earlier cancer diagnosis. Objectives: This study sought the views of PCPs from across Europe on how they thought the timeliness of cancer diagnosis could be improved. Design: In an online survey, a final open-ended question asked PCPs how they thought the speed of diagnosis of cancer in primary care could be improved. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Setting: A primary care study, with participating centres in 20 European countries. Participants: A total of 1352 PCPs answered the final survey question, with a median of 48 per country. Results: The main themes identified were: patient-related factors, including health education; care provider-related factors, including continuing medical education; improving communication and interprofessional partnership, particularly between primary and secondary care; factors relating to health system organisation and policies, including improving access to healthcare; easier primary care access to diagnostic tests; and use of information technology. Re-allocation of funding to support timely diagnosis was seen as an issue affecting all of these. Conclusions: To achieve more timely cancer diagnosis, health systems need to facilitate earlier patient presentation through education and better access to care, have well-educated clinicians with good access to investigations and better information technology, and adequate primary care cancer diagnostic pathway funding.