Help seeking for cancer ‘alarm’ symptoms: a qualitative interview study of primary care patients in the UK

Background

Delay in help seeking for cancer ‘alarm’ symptoms has been identified as a contributor to delayed diagnosis.

Aim

To understand people’s help-seeking decision making for cancer alarm symptoms, without imposing a cancer context.

Design and setting

Community-based, qualitative interview study in the UK, using purposive sampling by sex, socioeconomic status, and prior help seeking, with framework analysis of...