Abstract

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
Summer Research Conference 2016)

Akanuwe JNA Siriwardena AN Black S, Owen S
Community and Health Research Unit, School of Health and Social Care

EXPLORING SERVICE USER AND PRACTITIONER PERSPECTIVES OF QCANCER USE IN PRIMARY CARE CONSULTATIONS

Introduction: This study explored perspectives of service users and primary care practitioners about using QCancer, a cancer risk assessment tool, in primary care consultations.

Methods: Individual and focus group interviews with data analysed using the Framework approach.

Results: 36 participants, 19 service users and 17 practitioners, were interviewed until data saturation was achieved. Participants expressed a range of views about the implications of quantifying cancer risk using QCancer including: potential conflict with current cancer guidelines and, high risk symptoms would need referral for further investigation whatever the quantified risk. Participants agreed that QCancer would be useful in a number of ways including: helping to identify and raise awareness for modifying health behaviours and personalising patient care. Participants discussed communication needs when using QCancer, which will add to knowledge in terms of how best to improve communication of cancer risk during the consultation. Potential challenges to uptake of QCancer were also identified.

Conclusion: Participants perceived that QCancer would be potentially useful but communication needs of users and potential barriers for both users and practitioners need to be considered when planning QCancer use in general practice consultations.