Primary Care Risk Assessment Tool for Head and Neck Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Primary Care Risk Assessment Tool for Head and Neck Cancer - a qualitative study of head and neck cancer survivors views on a decision aid to be used in primary care.
IRAS ID
236242
Contact name
Paula Bradley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sunderland
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Patients who present with symptoms suspicious of Head and Neck Cancer (in the UK) are referred by primary care doctors to Head and Neck Cancer specialists via a pathway called the Two Week Wait; this ensures that patients are seen by a specialist within two weeks. Symptoms include a sore throat, a sore ear, a change in voice, a lump in the neck, an ulcer or a lump in the mouth and pain with, or a change in, swallowing.
A risk assessment tool to help GPs make decisions about a suspicion of cancer might mean patients get referred earlier about their symptoms. An evidence based tool used appropriately may allay cancer anxiety for patients but ensure that those with symptoms that are strongly linked to cancer are picked up.This study is to look at what patients think of computer based cancer risk assessment decision aids. These aids might help a general practitioner make a clinical decision about symptoms that are suspicious of an underlying cancer.
The aim is to speak to patients themselves (those who have had a previous diagnosis of head and neck cancer and some who have not) about how they feel about such a tool being used by GPs.
Patients will be asked about what they think about a general practitioner using a risk assessment aid to help make decisions about their symptoms and ask questions about the possibility of one being developed and used for head and neck symptoms that might be suspicious of a head and neck cancer.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0226
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion