Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31911419›Full record

ArticleBJGP open2020

Patient symptom experience prior to a diagnosis of oesophageal or gastric cancer: a multi-methods study.

Elka Humphrys, Fiona M Walter, Greg Rubin, Jon D Emery, Margaret Johnson, Anthony Richards, Rebecca C Fitzgerald, Yirupaiahgari Ks Viswanath, Jenni Burt

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJGP open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% 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.

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

20 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Diagnostic Risk Prediction Models for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Systematic Review.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2025
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  5. Patients' perceptions on reasons for self-referring to the emergency department shortly before a cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2025
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  16. A Review of Circulating Tumor DNA in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Esophageal Cancer.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 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

9 authors at 4 institutions in 5 countries.

Elka HumphrysResearch Associate, The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK elka.humphrys@thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6127-0157
Fiona M WalterPrincipal Researcher in Primary Care Cancer Research, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7191-6476
Greg RubinEmeritus Professor of General Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
Jon D EmeryHerman Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Margaret JohnsonLay Member, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Anthony RichardsLay Member, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Rebecca C FitzgeraldProfessor of Cancer Prevention, MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Yirupaiahgari Ks ViswanathProfessor of Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough, UK.
Jenni BurtSenior Social Scientist, The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
University of Cambridge · GBJames Cook University Hospital · GBNewcastle University · GBThe University of Melbourne · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLate stage diagnosis of oesophageal and gastric cancer is common, which limits treatment options and contributes to poor survival.

aimTo explore patients' understanding, experience and presentation of symptoms before a diagnosis of oesophageal or gastric cancer. DESIGN &

settingBetween May 2016 and October 2017, all patients newly diagnosed with oesophageal or gastric cancer were identified at weekly multidisciplinary team meetings at two large hospitals in England. A total of 321 patients were invited to participate in a survey and secondary care medical record review; 127 (40%) participants responded (102 patients had oesophageal cancer and 25 had gastric cancer). Of these, 26 participated in an additional face-to-face interview.

methodSurvey and medical record data were analysed descriptively. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, informed by the Model of Pathways to Treatment.

resultsParticipants experienced multiple symptoms before diagnosis. The most common symptom associated with oesophageal cancer was dysphagia (

conclusionThe patient interval may be lengthened by misinterpretation of key terms, such as heartburn, or misattribution or non-recognition of important bodily changes. Clearly defined symptom awareness messages may encourage earlier help-seeking, while eliciting symptom experience and meanings in primary care consultations could prompt earlier referral and diagnosis.

Indexed as

early diagnosisesophageal neoplasmsgastrointestinal neoplasmsgeneral practiceinterviewsPrimary health caresurveys and questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID31911419
PMCPMC7330188
OpenAlexW2999348054

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.