Understanding Symptom Experiences Fully (The USEFUL study) version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Symptoms associated with cancer in the UK general population: understanding prevalence, patterning and response to provide an evidence base for the development of interventions to reduce time to presentation
IRAS ID
160441
Contact name
Philip C Hannaford
Contact email
Research summary
The aim of this study is to examine the frequency and patterns of the main symptoms of four cancers (colorectal, lung, breast, upper gastrointestinal tract) in the UK general population and understand how people interpret and respond to these symptoms in order to provide an evidence base for the development of interventions to reduce time to presentation.
Existing interventions aimed at reducing time to presentation are hindered by a lack of knowledge about the frequency and patterns of symptoms associated with cancer in the UK general population, how people appraise and respond to these symptoms, how long they take to seek help and what factors influence time to presentation. Without such information the evidence base to underpin the development of effective interventions to promote earlier diagnosis of cancer is lacking.
We plan a three-phase mixed methods study which is underpinned by theoretical models.
Phase one - A general population cohort of 20,000 men and women aged 50+ from across Scotland and England will be established. A questionnaire survey will be used to determine the frequency and patterns of the main symptoms associated with four common UK cancers as well as investigate how people respond to these symptoms.
Phase two - In-depth telephone interviews to explore the general population’s appraisal of their symptoms in relation to knowledge, past experiences and emotional responses and to explore the rationale behind different responses.
Phase three - A record review of electronic and paper primary care held records of individuals who experienced a new potential cancer symptom in the preceding year to determine how often people with symptoms indicative of cancer present them to primary care and quantify time to presentation.
The results from these three phases combined will allow us to better understand symptoms in the community and the public’s responses to them.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/1124
Date of REC Opinion
11 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion