QUEST
Research type
Research Study
Full title
QUalitative Exploration of teST use for cancer symptoms (QUEST): How attitudes and perceived barriers to test use interact with patient characteristics to produce inequalities
IRAS ID
349391
Contact name
Claire Friedemann Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
When there is a possibility that a patient’s symptoms are being caused by an undiagnosed cancer, General Practitioners (GPs) often arrange for patients to undergo tests, such as blood tests, or investigations, such as x-rays (hereafter tests). This is particularly common when the patient does not meet the criteria to be referred to a specialist. These tests can help the GP to make a case for why their patient needs to be seen by a specialist and can be an important step in getting a cancer diagnosis. We know that in different parts of England there is variation in what tests are provided, how much testing is done, and who gets tested. The aim of the study is to interview patients who have previously experienced symptoms that could be caused by cancer, the carers of adult patients, and health care professionals about their experiences of being sent for cancer tests and providing tests for cancer. Through these discussions we would like to understand whether patients, carers, GPs and health care commissioners think there is a link between how testing is provided and variation in patients’ access to tests. We would then like to understand if this link could be creating or increasing barriers to testing for cancer.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0173
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion