ArticlePloS one2017
Experience of, awareness of and help-seeking for potential cancer symptoms in smokers and non-smokers: A cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Patient and carer perceived barriers to early presentation and diagnosis of lung cancer: a systematic review.BMC cancer · 2019Pooled it
- Trial
- Level of Awareness About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Active Smokers.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2026Article
- Smoking status, symptom significance and healthcare seeking with lung cancer symptoms in the Danish general population.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2025Article
- Inequalities in cancer 2-week-wait referrals: a cross-sectional study in English general practice.BJGP open · 2025Article
- Investigating the role of symptom valorisation in tuberculosis patient delay in urban areas in Portugal.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Ever Smoking is Not Associated with Performed Spirometry while Occupational Exposure and Respiratory Symptoms are.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2023Article
- What are the similarities and differences in lung cancer symptom appraisal and help-seeking according to smoking status? A qualitative study with lung cancer patients.Psycho-oncology · 2022Article
- A population-based study on social inequality and barriers to healthcare-seeking with lung cancer symptoms.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2022Article
- The promises and challenges of early non-small cell lung cancer detection: patient perceptions, low-dose CT screening, bronchoscopy and biomarkers.Molecular oncology · 2021Review
- Evaluating the delay prior to primary care presentation in patients with lung cancer: a cohort study.BJGP open · 2021Article
- Sensations, symptoms, and then what? Early bodily experiences prior to diagnosis of lung cancer.PloS one · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPresenting to primary care with potential cancer symptoms is contingent on one's ability to recognize potentially serious symptoms. We investigated differences between smokers and non-smokers in symptoms experienced, awareness and consulting of potential respiratory, head and neck cancer symptoms.
methodsSmokers and non-smokers aged over 50 from Yorkshire general practice lists were sent a postal questionnaire asking about symptoms, consulting and awareness of cancer symptoms. Data were analysed using STATA14.
resultsResponse rate after one reminder was 30.5% (1205/3954). Smoking status was associated with experience of cough (p<0.001), breathlessness (p = 0.002) and tiredness (p = 0.004) with smokers (25.8% of population) more likely than never-smokers (53.6% of population) to experience all three symptoms (cough OR = 2.56;95%CI[1.75-3.75], breathlessness OR = 2.39;95%CI[1.43-4.00], tiredness OR = 1.57;95%CI[1.12-2.19]). Smoking status was associated with awareness of breathlessness as a potential cancer symptom (p = 0.035) and consulting for cough (p = 0.011) with smokers less likely to consult than never-smokers (OR = 0.37;95% CI[0.17-0.80]).
conclusionOur findings suggest that current smokers are more likely to experience cough, breathlessness and tiredness, but are less likely to consult for cough than never-smokers. To increase cancer awareness and promote consulting among smokers, innovative interventions improving symptom recognition and empowering smokers to seek help are required.
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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.