Patient and GP factors affecting referral to oesophageal endoscopy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient and General Practitioner factors (psychological, behavioural and social) influencing the decision and time to referral for endoscopy/ specialist care of patients with newly diagnosed oesophageal cancer.
IRAS ID
217818
Contact name
Deepali Bij
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
De Montfort University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The number of people annually diagnosed with oesophageal cancer has been slowly declining over the years however the cancer stage at which people are diagnosed at is not improving. About 40-75% of patients are diagnosed at stages three or four in which the cancer is at an advanced stage. So far research has shown that issues such as mis-diagnosis and the incorrect treatment of oesophageal cancer symptoms with a lack of patient awareness about the cancer contribute to a delay in diagnosis. This means that by the time the patient is diagnosed, fewer treatment options are available to save a person’s life. Within primary care, once the seriousness of symptoms are recognised, the two week wait system allows for a quick referral for cancer investigation and diagnosis. However, the real issue is not how fast a patient is referred to hospital but the time at which they are referred at (early, mid or late stage cancer). Currently, there is a lack of research into the GP and patient factors that affect the decision and time to refer an individual to hospital endoscopy. If these type of behavioural, psychological and social factors can be understood, then there may be better chances of referring patients with possible oesophageal cancer at earlier stages of their disease, making better and efficient use of the two week wait system for cancer investigation and improving cancer survival rates. The current study will consist of interviews with general practitioners and patients, and GP focus groups to study the factors that affect referral.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0322
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion