Should we? Could we? Feasibility of interventions to support prevention or early diagnosis of future cancer following urgent referral: A qualitative study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Should we? Could we? Feasibility of interventions to support prevention or early diagnosis of future cancer following urgent referral

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Evans, Ruth E.C.

AU - Waller, Jo

AU - Nicholson, Brian D.

AU - Round, Thomas

AU - Gildea, Carolynn

AU - Smith, Deb

AU - Scott, Suzanne E.

N1 - Funding Information: The study was funded by Cancer Research UK [ EDDCPJT\100015 ]. This research arises from the CanTest Collaborative, which is funded by Cancer Research UK [ C8640/A23385 ], of which SES is a co-investigator. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/7

Y1 - 2023/7

N2 - Objective: This study investigated perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the feasibility of giving additional support to patients after cancer is not found following urgent referral. We sought to understand key facilitators or barriers to offering such support. Methods: A convenience sample of primary and secondary care healthcare professionals (n = 36) participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework Analysis, inductively and deductively, guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Results: HCPs indicated that support should be offered if proven to be efficacious. It needs to avoid potential negative consequences such as patient anxiety and information overload. HCPs were more hesitant about whether support could feasibly be offered, due to resource restrictions and perceived remit of the urgent pathway for suspected cancer. Conclusion: HCP support after discharge from urgent cancer referral pathways needs to be resource efficient, developed in collaboration with patients and should have proven efficacy. Development of brief interventions for delivery by a range of staff, and use of technology could mitigate barriers to implementation. Practice implications: Changes to discharge procedures to provide information, endorsement or direction to services could offer much needed support. Additional support would need to overcome logistical challenges and address limited capacity.

AB - Objective: This study investigated perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the feasibility of giving additional support to patients after cancer is not found following urgent referral. We sought to understand key facilitators or barriers to offering such support. Methods: A convenience sample of primary and secondary care healthcare professionals (n = 36) participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework Analysis, inductively and deductively, guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Results: HCPs indicated that support should be offered if proven to be efficacious. It needs to avoid potential negative consequences such as patient anxiety and information overload. HCPs were more hesitant about whether support could feasibly be offered, due to resource restrictions and perceived remit of the urgent pathway for suspected cancer. Conclusion: HCP support after discharge from urgent cancer referral pathways needs to be resource efficient, developed in collaboration with patients and should have proven efficacy. Development of brief interventions for delivery by a range of staff, and use of technology could mitigate barriers to implementation. Practice implications: Changes to discharge procedures to provide information, endorsement or direction to services could offer much needed support. Additional support would need to overcome logistical challenges and address limited capacity.

KW - Cancer

KW - Cancer screening

KW - Early detection

KW - Early diagnosis

KW - Neoplasm

KW - Opportunistic intervention

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153232449&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107757

DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107757

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85153232449

SN - 0738-3991

VL - 112

JO - Patient Education and Counseling

JF - Patient Education and Counseling

M1 - 107757

ER -