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‘Urgent suspicion of cancer’ referrals to a head and neck clinic – what do patients expect?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2019

J Montgomery ,
C M Douglas ,
F Begbie ,
A Hitchings  and
K MacKenzie
J Montgomery*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
C M Douglas
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
F Begbie
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
A Hitchings
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
K MacKenzie
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Studies and Health, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Ms J Montgomery, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4TF, Scotland, UK E-mail: Jennifer.montgomery@nhs.net
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Abstract

Background

Public awareness of ‘red flag’ symptoms for head and neck cancer is low. There is a lack of evidence regarding patient concerns and expectations in consultations for cancer assessment.

Method

This prospective questionnaire study examined the symptoms, concerns and expectations of 250 consecutive patients attending an ‘urgent suspicion of cancer’ clinic at a tertiary referral centre.

Results

The patients’ most frequent responses regarding their concerns were ‘no concerns’ (n = 72, 29 per cent); ‘all symptoms’ were a cause for concern (n = 65, 26 per cent) and ‘neck lump’ was a symptom causing concern (n = 37, 17 per cent). The expectations of patients attending clinic were that they would find out what was wrong with them, followed by having no expectations at all. Overall patient knowledge of red flag symptoms was lacking and their expectations were low.

Conclusion

Patients with non-cancer symptoms are frequently referred with suspected cancer. Patients with red flag symptoms are not aware of their significance and they have low expectations of healthcare.

Keywords

Head And Neck NeoplasmsHealth EducationSurveys And QuestionnairesOutpatientsAwareness
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 9 , September 2019 , pp. 782 - 787
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

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Footnotes

Ms J Montgomery takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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