title: GPs' perceptions and experiences of public awareness campaigns for cancer: a qualitative enquiry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Public awareness campaigns for cancer are used to alert the UK population to symptoms which, if experienced, should be discussed with their general practitioner (GP). More timely diagnosis of cancer is assumed possible if patients with the appropriate symptoms present to GPs and GPs recognise the need to act on these symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate GPs' perceptions and experiences of public awareness campaigns for cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with 55 GPs from practices in the North and North East of England and Greater London. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Repeated reading of GP transcripts engendered thematic analysis and co-coding ensured legitimacy of findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants supported the underpinning ethos of public health campaigns and articulated a commitment to engaging with patients with respect to cancer warning signs and symptoms despite the common perception that public awareness campaigns increased numbers of consultations. Tensions were evident with regard to increased demands on GP time and primary care resources during a period of major upheaval within the NHS. Concern was raised that some patients remain outwith the reach of campaign messages. The complexity of addressing how public health messages compete with other issues in people's lives was identified as challenging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  General practitioners provided insight into why some members of the general public do not engage with public health messages. Public health/primary care interaction that incorporates GPs' knowledge of their patient populations could advance the search for solutions to a more robust approach to earlier cancer recognition and referral in primary care.
authors: Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
authors: Trish
authors: T
authors: Green
authors: Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Atkin
authors: Primary Care, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
authors: Una
authors: U
authors: Macleod
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: cancer awareness campaigns; cancer diagnosis; general practitioners; mass media; primary care; qualitative study