Objectives:
This study aimed to understand and explore patient and GP experiences of ‘traditional’ and ‘onestop’ prostate cancer diagnostic pathways in England.
Design:
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, analysed using inductive thematic analysis
Setting:
Patients were recruited from National Health Service ...
Objectives:
This study aimed to understand and explore patient and GP experiences of ‘traditional’ and ‘onestop’ prostate cancer diagnostic pathways in England.
Design:
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, analysed using inductive thematic analysis
Setting:
Patients were recruited from National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in London and in Devon; GPs
were recruited via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Networks.
Interviews were conducted in person or via telephone.
Participants:
Patients who had undergone a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the prostate as part of
their diagnostic work-up for possible prostate cancer, and GPs who had referred at least one
patient for possible prostate cancer in the preceding 12 months.
Results:
22 patients (aged 47 – 80 years) and 10 GPs (6 female, aged 38 – 58 years) were interviewed.
Patients described three key themes: cancer beliefs in relation to patient’s attitudes towards
prostate cancer; communication with their GP and specialist having a significant impact on
experience of the pathway; and pathway experience being influenced by appointment and test
burden. GP interview themes included: the challenges of dealing with imperfect information in the
current pathway; managing uncertainty in identifying patients with possible prostate cancer, and
sharing this uncertainty with them, and other social, cultural and personal contextual influences.
Conclusions:
Patients and GPs reported a range of experiences and views of the current prostate cancer
diagnostic pathways in England. Patients valued ‘one-stop’ pathways integrating prostate MRI and
diagnostic consultations with specialists over the more traditional approach of several hospital
appointments. GPs remain uncertain how best to identify patients needing referral for urgent
prostate cancer testing due to the lack of accurate triage and risk assessment strategies.