Exploring GPs' experiences of using diagnostic tools for cancer: A qualitative study in primary care

Green, Trish; Martins, Tanimola; Hamilton, William; Rubin, Greg; Elliott, Kathy; Macleod, Una

Abstract

© The Author 2014. Background. The UK has an estimated 5-10 000 extra cancer deaths each year when compared to other European countries and diagnostic delays are thought to make a significant contribution to this. One of the initiatives in England intended to support primary care professionals has been the development of cancer risk assessment tools (RATs). These tools assist in identifying and quantifying the risk of cancer in symptomatic primary care patients. Objective. To explore GPs' experiences of incorporating the RATs for lung and bowel cancers into their clinical practice and in so doing, identify constraints and facilitators to the wider dissemination of the tools in primary care. Methods. We conducted semi-structured interviews over the telephone with 11 project managers who implemented the study and 23 GPs who used the tool. The interviews were digitally recorded, professionally transcribed verbatim and analysed through the construction of a 'thematic framework'. Results. The training and support package was fundamental to the successful integration of the RATs into GPs' daily routines. Ongoing support from cancer networks alongside acknowledgement of the clinical expertize of the GPs by those implementing the study enhanced GPs' uptake of the tool in practice. Conclusion. Findings suggest that the embedding of clinical decision support tools into clinical practice is more likely to be achieved when they are perceived to support but not supersede the clinical judgement of their users. This element of our findings is a focal point of this article.

Citation

Green, T., Martins, T., Hamilton, W., Rubin, G., Elliott, K., & Macleod, U. (2015). Exploring GPs' experiences of using diagnostic tools for cancer: A qualitative study in primary care. Family practice, 32(1), 101-105. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmu081

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 30, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2014
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Deposit Date: Apr 19, 2022
• Journal: Family Practice
• Print ISSN: 0263-2136
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 101-105
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmu081
• Keywords: Clinical decision support tools; Early detection of cancer; General practitioners; Primary health care; Qualitative research
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3607680