Identifying important health system factors that influence primary care practitioners' referrals for cancer suspicion: a European cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Cancer survival and stage of disease at diagnosis and treatment vary widely across Europe. These differences may be partly due to variations in access to investigations and specialists. However, evidence to explain how different national health systems influence primary care practitioners' (PCPs') referral decisions is lacking.This study analyses health system factors potentially influencing PCPs' referral decision-making when consulting with patients who may have cancer, and how these vary between European countries.

Design

Based on a content-validity consensus, a list of 45 items relating to a PCP's decisions to refer patients with potential cancer symptoms for further investigation was reduced to 20 items. An online questionnaire with the 20 items was answered

SUBMITTER: Harris M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6129106 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature