East of England Cancer Alliances - qualitative research
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Applying behavioural insights to increase earlier cancer detection in the East of England
IRAS ID
332954
Contact name
Craig Johnson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East of England Cancer Alliances
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 12 days
Research summary
The East of England experiences challenging cancer waiting times, with low performance for some key cancer standards, meaning some patients are waiting longer than they should for a cancer diagnosis via managed pathways. When patients have to wait for a long time for appointments and/or be seen multiple times without cancer being considered, then this may impact on the numbers of patients who then arrive in emergency services with severe symptoms that lead to a cancer diagnosis.
When a patient is diagnosed through emergency routes, this is associated with higher mortality rates and later stage diagnosis is more likely. Late stage cancer diagnoses lead to poorer relative survival outcomes.
This study will use qualitative interviews with cancer patients in the local area to find out more about why some patients do not get detected earlier for cancer in the region, and identify potential interventions to support patients to come through managed routes.
Research questions
1. What are the main reasons that patients seek emergency care that results in a cancer diagnosis?
2. For patients who are diagnosed through emergency routes, what does their journey look like between their first symptoms appearing and receiving a cancer diagnosis?
3. What barriers may currently be preventing patients from being diagnosed earlier?
4. What opportunities might there be to enable patients to be diagnosed earlier?REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0850
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion