Cancer detection in primary care: insights from general practitioners.
BACKGROUND
General practitioners (GPs) have a key role in cancer detection as the usual first point of contact for patients with potential cancer symptoms. Nevertheless, there is limited work that investigates their perceptions of their role in the early detection of cancer. To address this gap, we aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of cancer diagnosis from the perspective of GPs.


METHODS
Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 55 GPs from the North and North East of England and Greater London. All interviews were recorded and professionally transcribed verbatim. Repeated reading and co-coding engendered systematic thematic analysis across the interview material.


RESULTS
Three main themes emerged from the analysis of our data. First, we identified the burden of early cancer detection in general practice, both related to the anxiety and symptoms patients bring to GPs and the need for GPs to recognise patterns of cancer symptoms and refer appropriately; second, this burden is intensified by a perceived fragmentation of services within the National Health Service (NHS); and third, it is made more complex by the interface between general practice and public health.


CONCLUSIONS
GPs occupy a challenging but pivotal role in cancer detection. It is crucial that this role be supported by policy and research.
Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hertford Building, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
T
T
Green
Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Seebohm Rowntree Building, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
K
K
Atkin
Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hertford Building, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
U
U
Macleod
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004739:England; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation