Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36980553›Full record

ArticleCancers2023

The Role of Type 2 Diabetes in Patient Symptom Attribution, Help-Seeking, and Attitudes to Investigations for Colorectal Cancer Symptoms: An Online Vignette Study.

Lauren Smith, Christian Von Wagner, Aradhna Kaushal, Meena Rafiq, Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Cristina Renzi

Open access · goldFull text read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 34% 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
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

6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Lauren SmithResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Christian Von WagnerResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Aradhna KaushalResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Meena RafiqResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Georgios LyratzopoulosResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2873-7421
Cristina RenziResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3845-9493
University College London · GBThe University of Melbourne · AUVita-Salute San Raffaele University · IT

Funding

Cancer Research UK 18180Cancer Research UK EDDCPJT\100018National Institute for Health Research PRU-1217-21601NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research NIHR201070
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesType 2 diabetes is associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced-stage cancer diagnosis. To help diagnose cancer earlier, this study aimed at examining whether diabetes might influence patient symptom attribution, help-seeking, and willingness to undergo investigations for possible CRC symptoms.

methodsA total of 1307 adults (340 with and 967 without diabetes) completed an online vignette survey. Participants were presented with vignettes describing new-onset red-flag CRC symptoms (rectal bleeding or a change in bowel habits), with or without additional symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Following the vignettes, participants were asked questions on symptom attribution, intended help-seeking, and attitudes to investigations.

resultsDiabetes was associated with greater than two-fold higher odds of attributing changes in bowel habits to medications (OR = 2.48; 95% Cl 1.32-4.66) and of prioritising diabetes-related symptoms over the change in bowel habits during medical encounters. Cancer was rarely mentioned as a possible explanation for the change in bowel habits, especially among diabetic participants (10% among diabetics versus 16% in nondiabetics; OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.36-0.85). Among patients with diabetes, those not attending annual check-ups were less likely to seek help for red-flag cancer symptoms (OR = 0.23; 95% Cl 0.10-0.50).

conclusionsAwareness of possible cancer symptoms was low overall. Patients with diabetes could benefit from targeted awareness campaigns emphasising the importance of discussing new symptoms such as changes in bowel habits with their doctor. Specific attention is warranted for individuals not regularly attending healthcare despite their chronic morbidity.

Indexed as

cancer diagnosiscolorectal cancerdiabetes

Identifiers

PMID36980553
PMCPMC10045970
OpenAlexW4323665195

What OpenQuestion holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
measurements read71
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.