PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - David N Blane
AU  - Sara MacDonald
AU  - Catherine A O'Donnell
TI  - Patient and practitioner views on cancer risk discussions in primary care: a qualitative study
AID  - 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0108
DP  - 2021 Oct 13
TA  - BJGP Open
PG  - BJGPO.2021.0108
4099  - http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2021/10/13/BJGPO.2021.0108.short
4100  - http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2021/10/13/BJGPO.2021.0108.full
AB  - Background It is estimated that nearly 600,000 cancer cases in the UK could have been avoided in the last five years if people had healthier lifestyles, with the principle modifiable risk factors being smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption and inactivity. There is growing interest in the use of cancer risk information in general practice to encourage lifestyle modification.Aim To explore the views and experiences of patients and practitioners in relation to cancer prevention and cancer risk discussions in general practice.Design & setting Qualitative study among patient and practitioners in general practices in Glasgow, UK.Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine practitioners (5 GPs and four practice nurses, recruited purposively from practices based on list size and deprivation status) and 13 patients (aged 30–60, with two or more specified co-morbidities).Results Currently, cancer risk discussions focus on smoking and cancer, with links between alcohol/obesity and cancer rarely made. There was support for the use of the personalised cancer risk tool as an additional resource in primary care. Practitioners felt practice nurses were best placed to use it. Use in planned appointments (eg, chronic disease reviews) was preferred over opportunistic use. Concerns were expressed, however, about generating anxiety, time constraints, and widening inequalities.Conclusions Health behaviour change is complex and the provision of information alone is unlikely to have significant effects. Personalised risk tools may have a role, but important concerns about their use – particularly in areas of socio-economic disadvantage – remain.