What prompts help-seeking for cancer 'alarm' symptoms? A primary care based survey

British Journal of Cancer
K L WhitakerJ Wardle

Abstract

Encouraging prompt help-seeking for cancer symptoms can help shorten the patient interval and improve timely diagnosis. We explored factors associated with help-seeking in a primary care sample reporting 'alarm' symptoms. A questionnaire was mailed to 9771 adults (⩾ 50 years of age and no cancer diagnosis) and 3766 (39%) returned it. Our sample included 1732 adults reporting at least one cancer 'alarm' symptom; with a total of 2726 symptoms. Respondents completed questions relating to help-seeking, demographic and symptom characteristics (e.g., type, knowledge, concern, interference and attribution). Over a third of people who reported a cancer 'alarm' symptom in the past 3 months had not sought help from a doctor. An unexplained lump (odds ratio (OR) 2.46, 1.42-4.26) and persistent unexplained pain (OR 1.79, 1.19-2.69) were associated with increased likelihood of help-seeking. Symptom concern (OR 3.10, 2.19-4.39) and interference (OR 3.06, 2.15-4.36) were associated with an increased likelihood of seeking help independently of symptom type. People who were not working (OR 1.41, 1.09-1.83), were married/cohabiting rather than single (OR 1.38, 1.10-1.74) and were older (60-69 years) rather than younger (50-59 years; OR 1.33, 1.0...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 30, 2016·British Journal of Health Psychology·Afrodita MarcuKatriina L Whitaker
May 25, 2016·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Susanne K CrommeJane Wardle
Sep 30, 2017·International Journal of Cancer. Journal International Du Cancer
Nov 22, 2019·Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences·Maryam Momeni, Forough Rafii
Aug 6, 2020·Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care·Sulaiman A AlshammariHotoon S Alshammari
Nov 23, 2016·BMC Public Health·Kelly WinstanleyKatriina L Whitaker
Apr 21, 2021·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Jean-Pierre LaakeStephen W Duffy
Nov 4, 2021·BMC Women's Health·Mohamedraed ElshamiBettina Bottcher
Jul 14, 2020·Cancer Nursing·Forough RafiiFariba Taleghani

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