ArticleBJGP open2021
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer assessment in primary care: a qualitative study of GP views.
Article in BJGP open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has not influenced survival outcomes of head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinomas in the West of Scotland: a retrospective cohort study.BJC reports · 2026Article
- Assessing the impact of timely diagnosis on psychological outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients: A scoping review.PloS one · 2026Article
- Reflecting on the impact of the COVID pandemic on patient management and its subsequent influence on long-term outcomes: a case-control study in the field of esophago-gastric cancer.World journal of surgical oncology · 2025Article
- Inequalities in cancer 2-week-wait referrals: a cross-sectional study in English general practice.BJGP open · 2025Article
- Hidden systems in primary care cancer detection: an embedded qualitative intervention development study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2024Article
- Article
- Use of telemedicine in general practice in Europe since the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of patient and practitioner perspectives.PLOS digital health · 2024Article
- Electronic safety-netting tool features considered important by UK general practice staff: an interview and Delphi consensus study.BJGP open · 2023Article
- Article
- Article
- COVID-19 Continues to Burden General Practitioners: Impact on Workload, Provision of Care, and Intention to Leave.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Pandemic delay: social implications and challenges for palliative care.Palliative care and social practice · 2023Article
- Article
- Cancer detection during the COVID-19 pandemic-Experiences in primary care and recommendations for the future.Journal of general and family medicine · 2022Article
- Article
- Primary care practice and cancer suspicion during the first three COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2022Article
- Socioeconomic differences in help seeking for colorectal cancer symptoms during COVID-19: a UK-wide qualitative interview study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2022Article
- Lung cancer and Covid-19: lessons learnt from the pandemic and where do we go from here?NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2022Article
- Creating space for gut feelings in the diagnosis of cancer in primary care.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2022Article
- The impact of the COVID pandemic on primary care diabetes services in the UK: A cross-sectional national survey of views of health professionals delivering diabetes care.Primary care diabetes · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEarly diagnosis is key to improve cancer outcomes, and most cancers are diagnosed in primary care after initial symptomatic presentation. Emerging evidence suggests an increase in avoidable cancer deaths owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
aimTo understand GPs' views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical assessment of possible cancer. DESIGN &
settingA qualitative semi-structured interview study with GPs from the East of England.
methodGPs were purposively sampled based on age, sex, and years of experience. Interviews were conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams in August and September 2020. Transcribed recordings were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. The Model of Pathways to Treatment guided the analysis.
resultsThree themes were identified across 23 interviews on GP views on the impact of: (1) changes in patient help-seeking behaviour on symptoms at presentation; (2) remote consultations on managing patients with possible cancer symptoms; and (3) the COVID-19 pandemic on triaging and referring patients with possible cancer. There were positive changes to practice, but concerns were raised about the adequacy of remote consultations for assessing symptoms. Some GPs reported delayed cancer diagnoses, and uncertainty about how backlog in referrals would be managed.
conclusionThis study provides new evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on assessing symptomatic patients. Recommendations are made to inform safe and effective primary care clinical practice. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure appropriate symptomatic assessment now and in the future.
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