Journal article

Presentations to general practice before a cancer diagnosis in Victoria: A cross-sectional survey

K Lacey, JF Bishop, HL Cross, P Chondros, G Lyratzopoulos, JD Emery

Medical Journal of Australia | AUSTRALASIAN MED PUBL CO LTD | Published : 2016

Abstract

Objective: To assess variations in the number of general practitioner visits preceding a cancer diagnosis, and in the length of the interval between the patient first suspecting a problem and their seeing a hospital specialist. Design, setting and participants: Analysis of data provided to the Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES; survey response rate, 37.7%) by 1552 patients with one of 19 cancer types and treated in one of five Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre hospitals, 1 October 2012 - 30 April 2013. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who had had three or more GP consultations about cancer-related health problems before being referred to hosp..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Cancer Research UK


Funding Acknowledgements

Our study was funded by the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Georgios Lyratzopoulos is supported by a Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist Fellowship (A18180). We thank the investigators and institutions involved in this study. We also thank all patients who responded to the surveys.