What advice do patients want after urgent suspected cancer referral when cancer is not found?

Conference:

SAPC ASM 2024 - Bristol

Talk Code:

7A.2

Presenter:

Suzanne Scott

Twitter:

@Suzanne_Scott_

Co-authors:

Ruth Evans, Harriet Watson, Jo Waller, Brian Nicholson, Thomas Round, Carolynn Gildea, Debs Smith, Suzanne Scott

Author institutions:

Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, University of Oxford, NHS England

Problem

No standardised approach exists to provide advice after urgent suspected cancer referral when cancer is not found and at present we do not know patients’ views concerning advice linked to urgent suspected cancer referral pathways. This study aimed to assess patient preferences and acceptability of receiving advice after urgent suspected cancer referral related to: 1) managing ongoing symptoms, 2) responding to early symptoms of other cancers, 3) cancer screening, 4) reducing the risk of future cancer. The study also aimed to investigate if acceptability differs between socio-demographic groups.

Approach

Patients from two UK NHS Trusts were mailed a survey 1-3 months after having no cancer found following urgent suspected gastrointestinal or head and neck cancer referral. Participants were asked about: willingness to receive advice; prospective acceptability of receiving advice; preferences related to mode, timing and who should provide advice; and previous advice receipt.

Findings

406 patients responded (16.0% response rate) with n=397 in the final analyses. Few participants had previously received advice, yet most were willing to. Willingness varied by type of advice: fewer were willing to receive advice about early symptoms of other cancers (88.9%) than advice related to ongoing symptoms (94.3%). Acceptability was relatively high for all advice types. Reducing the risk of future cancer advice was reported as more acceptable. Acceptability was lower in those from ethnic minority groups, and with lower levels of education. Most participants preferred to receive advice from a doctor; with results or soon after; either face to face or via the telephone.

Consequences

There is a potential unmet need for advice after urgent suspected cancer referral when no cancer is found. Equitable intervention design should focus on increasing acceptability for people from ethnic minority groups and those with lower levels of education.

Submitted by:

Suzanne Scott

Funding acknowledgement:

Cancer Research UK