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  • Delays in the diagnosis of lung cancer occurred because patients failed to recognise symptoms as serious and warranting medical attention

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Qualitative
Delays in the diagnosis of lung cancer occurred because patients failed to recognise symptoms as serious and warranting medical attention

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebn.9.4.127

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    Corner J, Hopkinson J, Roffe L. Experience of health changes and reasons for delay in seeking care: a UK study of the months prior to the diagnosis of lung cancer. Soc Sci Med 2006;62:1381–91.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science

    Q How might patients with lung cancer have influenced the timing of diagnosis?

    DESIGN

    Structured and semistructured interviews.

    SETTING

    2 outpatient cancer centres in the UK.

    PATIENTS

    A quota sample of 22 patients 43–82 y of age (55% men) with lung cancer. All but 1 patient were previous or current smokers. 7 patients had potentially curable disease.

    METHODS

    Patients participated in structured and semistructured interviews. Most were interviewed within 3 days to 1 month of diagnosis. Patients were asked about events leading up to their diagnosis, and key events were recorded on a time line; this was followed up by specific questions about each symptom. Interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim.

    MAIN FINDINGS

    All patients had experienced symptoms for …

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    Footnotes

    • For correspondence: Dr J Corner, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. j.l.corner{at}soton.ac.uk

    • Source of funding: Department of Health, UK.