Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26911574›Full record

ArticleThorax2016

Smokers are less likely than non-smokers to seek help for a lung cancer 'alarm' symptom.

C Friedemann Smith, K L Whitaker, K Winstanley, J Wardle

Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract readLetter
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Thorax, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07543601 (Enhanced COPD Management in Suspected Lung Cancer Patients - Improving Outcomes Through Timely Intervention), which is not on this map. Cited by 43 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.8field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
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.

NCT07543601 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Enhanced COPD Management in Suspected Lung Cancer Patients - Improving Outcomes Through Timely Intervention

TypeinterventionalSponsorDitte Krag-HansenRan2026 to 2027Enrolled280ConditionsCOPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Lung Cancer (Diagnosis), Lung Neoplasm Malignant, Lung CarcinomaArmsTailored COPD consultations
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 68 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  14. [Gender medicine in lung diseases].Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2024
    Review
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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

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

C Friedemann SmithDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK.
K L WhitakerSchool of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
K WinstanleyDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK.
J WardleDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK.
University College London · GBUniversity of Surrey · GB

Funding

Cancer Research UK 13276Department of Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe majority (>85%) of lung cancer cases are linked with smoking, and prognosis is poor because it is often diagnosed at a late stage. One contributor to late-stage diagnosis could be patient delay in help-seeking. We investigated the help-seeking behaviour of smokers and non-smokers for a recent lung cancer alarm symptom.

methodsA health survey was sent to 4913 men and women aged >50 years through through General Practice. It included questions on symptoms experienced in the past 3 months (from a checklist), help-seeking (Yes/No) for each symptom and demographic characteristics including smoking status. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between smoking status and help-seeking for a cough or hoarseness.

resultsAmong 2042 participants (42% response rate), 280 (14%) reported 'cough or hoarseness' in the past 3 months; of whom 22% were current smokers. Being a smoker was associated with reduced likelihood of help-seeking (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.83), even after adjusting for demographic factors (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.21 to 1.00).

conclusionsDelay in help-seeking in smokers for a symptom that is potentially indicative of lung cancer is a cause for concern. Future research could usefully address the psychological mechanisms through which help-seeking in smokers is hindered.

Indexed as

Patient Acceptance of Health CareDelayed DiagnosisEnglandFemaleHealth SurveysHumansLung NeoplasmsMaleMiddle AgedSmokingLung CancerPsychologyTobacco and the lung

Identifiers

PMID26911574
PMCPMC4941149
OpenAlexW2281076595

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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.