Using cancer risk algorithms to improve risk estimates and referral decisions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cancer risk algorithms were introduced to clinical practice in the last decade, but they remain underused. We investigated whether General Practitioners (GPs) change their referral decisions in response to an unnamed algorithm, if decisions improve, and if changing decisions depends on having information about the algorithm and on whether GPs overestimated or underestimated risk.

Methods

157 UK GPs were presented with 20 vignettes describing patients with possible colorectal cancer symptoms. GPs gave their risk estimates and inclination to refer. They then saw the risk score of an unnamed algorithm and could update their responses. Half of the sample was given information about the algorithm's derivation, validation, and accuracy. At the end, we measured their alg

SUBMITTER: Kostopoulou O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9053195 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature