ArticleBMJ open2015
Symptom appraisal and healthcare-seeking for symptoms suggestive of colorectal cancer: a qualitative study.
Article in BMJ open, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers.
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Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trial
- Prognostic factors and survival outcomes in colorectal cancer: insights from a Ghanaian cohort.BMC gastroenterology · 2025Article
- The dual burden of stigma: a scoping review of its impact on colorectal cancer patients and screening participants.BMC public health · 2025Article
- What can hospital emergency admissions prior to cancer diagnosis tell us about socio-economic inequalities in cancer diagnosis? Evidence from population-based data in England.British journal of cancer · 2024Article
- Understanding the interplay of colorectal cancer awareness and attitudes among Palestinians: a national cross-sectional study.BMC cancer · 2024Article
- Symptom appraisal and help seeking in males with symptoms of possible prostate cancer: a qualitative study with an ethnically diverse sample in London.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2023Article
- Factors affecting patient decisions to undergo testing for cancer symptoms: an exploratory qualitative study in Australian general practice.BJGP open · 2023Article
- A qualitative exploration of the facilitators and barriers to early diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer: Perceptions of patients and carers.European journal of cancer care · 2022Article
- Patient-reported diagnostic intervals to colorectal cancer diagnosis in the Midland region of New Zealand: a prospective cohort study.Family practice · 2022Article
- 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 · 2022Article
- Caring for the Older Horse: A Conceptual Model of Owner Decision Making.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
- Survival of colorectal cancer patients in Brunei Darussalam: comparison between 2002-09 and 2010-17.BMC cancer · 2021Article
- Sensations, symptoms, and then what? Early bodily experiences prior to diagnosis of lung cancer.PloS one · 2021Article
- Article
- Women's appraisal, interpretation and help-seeking for possible symptoms of breast and cervical cancer in South Africa: a qualitative study.BMC women's health · 2020Article
- Patients' accounts of living with and managing inflammatory bowel disease in rural Southern New Zealand: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2020Article
- Barriers and facilitators to colorectal cancer diagnosis in New Zealand: a qualitative study.BMC family practice · 2020Article
- Why don't patients seek help for chronic post-surgical pain after knee replacement? A qualitative investigation.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2020Article
- Gender- and Race-Based Differences in Barriers and Facilitators to Early Detection of Colon Cancer.Journal of women's health (2002) · 2020Article
- Knowledge, attitude and practice towards early screening of colorectal cancer in Riyadh.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTimely diagnosis of colorectal cancer is important to improve survival. This study explored symptom appraisal and help-seeking among patients referred to specialist services with symptoms of colorectal cancer.
designQualitative in-depth interview study. SETTING AND
participantsParticipants were recruited on referral to gastroenterology clinics (North East and East of England); interviews were conducted soon after referral. We purposively sampled participants to ensure a range of accounts in terms of age, sex, diagnosis and geographical location.
methodsData collection and analysis were underpinned by the Model of Pathways to Treatment. Framework analysis was used to explore the data within and across cases, focusing on patient beliefs and experiences, disease factors and healthcare influences.
results40 participants were interviewed (aged 43-87 years, 17 women, 18 diagnosed with colorectal cancer). Patients diagnosed with and without colorectal cancer had similar symptom pathways. We found a range of interacting and often competing biopsychosocial, contextual and cultural influences on the way in which people recognised, interpreted and acted on their symptoms. People attempted to 'maintain normality' through finding benign explanations for their symptoms. Bodily changes were appraised within the context of usual bowel patterns, comorbidities and life events, and decisions to seek help were made in relation to expectations about the course of symptoms. The 'private nature' of colorectal cancer symptoms could affect both their identification and discussions with others including healthcare professionals. Within the context of the National Health Service, people needed to legitimise appropriate use of healthcare services and avoid being thought of as wasting doctors' time.
conclusionsFindings provide guidance for awareness campaigns on reducing stigma around appraising and discussing bowel movements, and the importance of intermittent and non-specific symptoms. Altering perceptions about the appropriate use of health services could have a beneficial effect on time to presentation.
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