Inequalities in early cancer detection through primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the intersectionality of drivers of inequality in early cancer detection in primary care settings: a multi-methods qualitative study
IRAS ID
361232
Contact name
Samuel W D Merriel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The problem
Most people who are diagnosed with cancer start their journey by visiting their GP surgery. Cancer does not affect people who get it equally. Some people have their cancer picked up early, when it is easier to treat, and for some people it will be too late. There are many reasons why this happens, including where someone lives, their background, or their gender.The aim
To understand the key reasons why some groups are less likely to have cancer found early and the combined effect of things like a person’s age, gender, ethnicity, education, and income on cancer diagnosis.The research
We will interview patients, their family members or carers, and GPs about what they think affects when a patient will get diagnosed. We will observe how patients and staff at GP surgeries interact to understand what happens in the real world when a patient is seeking help for a new symptom or problem they are worried about. We will then analyse the data from our interviews and observations to look for patterns and themes.Involving patients and the public
A member of the study team is a patient who has been involved with research in the past. They will work with the researchers to plan and do the study. A patient & public involvement group will be set up with people representing different groups affected by cancer inequalities. We will organise a workshop involving patients, members of the public, and health service staff to look at our results and agree the next steps.The impact
By learning more about barriers to diagnosing cancer early from the point of view of public and healthcare professionals we can make recommendations that will improve cancer outcomes for everyone.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
25/NS/0117
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion