PEOPLE-HULL Study: Improving help-seeking for lung symptoms in Hull
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PEOPLE-HULL: Primary care and community Engagement to Optimise time to Presentation with Lung cancEr symptoms in HULL
IRAS ID
241021
Contact name
Una Macleod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
More people are diagnosed with and die from lung cancer in Hull than any other place in Yorkshire. The main reason for this is related to lung cancers being diagnosed at a time when they are too advanced to be eligible for curative treatment. Our aim is to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer by encouraging people to see their doctor if they get lung symptoms and supporting GPs to refer people sooner. To do this, we are developing a public media campaign and will also work in the communities via Roadshow type events to engage with the public about lung symptoms and how and when to seek help. We will support the public who attend our Roadshows who have potential cancer symptoms to see their GPs. We will recruit GP practices in Hull and engage with them about lung cancer symptoms and referral via educational events and quality improvement work. Practices will invite patients at risk of lung cancer (smokers aged 50-74) to attend for a Lung Health Check consultation with a health care assistant. This will consist of a discussion about lung health, the completion of a questionnaire and spirometry. Patients will be advised regarding symptoms with which they should consult. We will evaluate these public and practice level interventions by looking at referral rates, emergency presentation rates, stage of cancer at diagnosis, and by asking people subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer about their experiences of their pathway to diagnosis. We have already collected data from lung cancer patients about their pathway to diagnosis in a previous study so will have before and after data to analyse the benefit of our intervention. We will also conduct practice ethnography, which will entail observations and interviews (LHC patients) and focus group discussions and interviews (health professionals and staff).
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0088
Date of REC Opinion
30 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion