Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26099812›Full record

ArticleFamily practice2015

Symptom perceptions and help-seeking behaviour prior to lung and colorectal cancer diagnoses: a qualitative study.

Sarah McLachlan, Gemma Mansell, Tom Sanders, Sarah Yardley, Daniëlle van der Windt, Lucy Brindle, Carolyn Chew-Graham, Paul Little

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Family practice, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
35citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

35 citing papers in PubMed.

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  9. Factors influencing symptom appraisal and help-seeking of older adults with possible cancer: a mixed-methods systematic review.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sarah McLachlanArthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, s.mclachlan@keele.ac.uk.
Gemma MansellArthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire.
Tom SandersNIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber, Section of Public Health, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield.
Sarah YardleyArthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London.
Daniëlle van der WindtArthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire.
Lucy BrindleSchool of Health Sciences and.
Carolyn Chew-GrahamArthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire.
Paul LittlePrimary Care and Population Sciences Division, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLung and colorectal cancer are common and have high UK mortality rates. Early diagnosis is important in reducing cancer mortality, but the literature on lung and colorectal cancers suggests many people wait for a considerable time before presenting symptoms.

objectiveTo gain in-depth understanding of patients' interpretations of symptoms of lung and colorectal cancer prior to diagnosis, and to explore processes leading to help-seeking.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with lung (N=9) or colorectal (N=20) cancer within the previous 12 months. Patients were asked about symptoms experienced in the period preceding diagnosis, their interpretations of symptoms, and decision making for help-seeking. Thematic analysis was conducted and comparisons drawn within and across the patient groups.

resultsPatients were proactive and rational in addressing symptoms; many developed alternative, non-cancer explanations based on their knowledge and experience. Discussions with important others frequently provided the impetus to consult, but paradoxically others often initially reinforced alternative explanations. Fear and denial did not emerge as barriers to help-seeking, but help-seeking was triggered when patients' alternative explanations could no longer be maintained, for instance due to persistence or progression of symptoms.

conclusionPatients' reasoning, decision making and interpersonal interactions prior to diagnosis were complex. Prompting patients for additional detail on symptoms within consultations could elicit critical contextual information to aid referral decisions. Findings also have implications for the design of public health campaigns.

Indexed as

Decision MakingDiagnostic Self EvaluationPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultAgedAged, 80 and overColorectal NeoplasmsFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansInterpersonal RelationsInterviews as TopicLung NeoplasmsMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchDiagnosisneoplasmsprimary health carequalitativereferral and consultation.

Identifiers

PMID26099812
PMCPMC4576759

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.