Do perceived barriers to clinical presentation affect anticipated time to presenting with cancer symptoms: An ICBP Study

Background: Cancer survival in the UK and Denmark are lower when compared to similar countries with late diagnosis a possible cause. We aimed to study the relationship between barriers to attending a primary care physician (GP) and anticipated time to help seeking (ATHS) with four cancer symptoms in six countries. Method: A population-based survey measuring cancer awareness and beliefs conducted within the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and UK. Data were collected on perceived barriers to GP consultation (including embarrassment, worry about wasting the doctors time, fear about what the doctor might find and being too busy) and ATHS for persistent cough, abdominal swelling, rectal bleeding and breast changes. Relationships between perceived barriers and ATHS were investigated using multivariable analysis. Results: Among 19,079 respondents, higher perceived barrier scores were associated with longer ATHS intervals for all symptoms studied (p10.84) had between two and three times the odds of longer ATHS. ATHS was low in Australia for all symptoms and highest in Denmark for abdominal bloating. Conclusion: Perceived barriers to help-seeking have a role in delaying GP presentation. Early diagnosis campaigns should address emotional and practical barriers that reduce early presentation with potential cancer symptoms

Creating a new vision for the future: A report from the Blue Ribbon Commission

Many opportunities have been presented to coordinate, collaborate, and to create new activities, services, and structures to better meet the needs of current and potential members. Rather than attempting to evaluate the merits of each of these three avenues in this report, the goal is foster an informed conversation about the future. The choices made by the organizations may include a combination of activities among these three categories. The critical next step is for a wider conversation among members of the organizations to take place concerning the future of the profession

Gender in the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist

We are a group of researchers working in the Medical Sciences division at the University of Oxford. Many of us regularly use Equator’s Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist [1] when reporting results from our studies using interviews and focus groups. The aim of this checklist is to encourage transparent and consistent reporting of methods and results, which we support. However, we would like draw attention to one particular criteria; Domain1, criteria 4—‘gender’. The guide questions/description for this checklist item asks authors to state ‘Was the researcher male or female?’

Gender in the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) Checklist.

We are a group of researchers working in the Medical Sciences division at the University of Oxford. Many of us regularly use Equator’s Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist [1] when reporting results from our studies using interviews and focus groups. The aim of this checklist is to encourage transparent and consistent reporting of methods and results, which we support. However, we would like draw attention to one particular criteria; Domain1, criteria 4—‘gender’. The guide questions/description for this checklist item asks authors to state ‘Was the researcher male or female?’