General practitioners' clinical decision-making in patients that could have cancer: a vignette study comparing the Baltic states with four Nordic countries.
Saved in:
| Title: | General practitioners' clinical decision-making in patients that could have cancer: a vignette study comparing the Baltic states with four Nordic countries. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Rosendahl, Alexander (AUTHOR), Vanaveski, Anet (AUTHOR), Pilv-Toom, Liina (AUTHOR), Blumfelds, Jānis (AUTHOR), Siliņa, Vija (AUTHOR), Brekke, Mette (AUTHOR), Koskela, Tuomas (AUTHOR), Rapalavičius, Aurimas (AUTHOR), Thulesius, Hans (AUTHOR), Vedsted, Peter (AUTHOR), Harris, Michael (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. Jun2025, Vol. 43 Issue 2, p403-410. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Tumor risk factors, Risk assessment, Early detection of cancer, Questionnaires, Multiple regression analysis, Decision making in clinical medicine, Descriptive statistics, Metropolitan areas, Tumors, Case studies |
| Geographic Terms: | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden |
| Abstract: | Objective: Relative one-year cancer survival rates in the Baltic states are lower than the European mean; in the Nordic countries they are higher than the mean. This study investigated the likelihood of General Practitioners (GPs) investigating or referring patients with a low but significant risk of cancer in these two regions, and how this was affected by GP demographics. Design: A survey of GPs using clinical vignettes. Setting: General Practice in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Subjects: General Practitioners. Outcome measures: A regional comparison of GPs' stated immediate diagnostic actions (whether or not they would perform a key diagnostic test and/or refer to a specialist) for patients with a low but significant risk of cancer (between 1.2 and 3.6%). Results: Of the 427 GPs that completed the questionnaire, those in the Baltic states, and GPs that were more experienced, were more likely to arrange a key diagnostic test and/or refer their patient to a specialist than those in Nordic Countries or who were less experienced (p < 0.001 for both measures). Neither GP sex nor practice location within a country showed a significant association with these measures. Conclusion: While relative one-year cancer survival rates are lower in the Baltic states than in four Nordic countries, we found no evidence that this is due to their GPs' reluctance to take immediate diagnostic action, as GPs in the Baltic states were more likely to investigate and/or refer at the first consultation. Research on patient and secondary care factors is needed to explain the survival differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Objective: Relative one-year cancer survival rates in the Baltic states are lower than the European mean; in the Nordic countries they are higher than the mean. This study investigated the likelihood of General Practitioners (GPs) investigating or referring patients with a low but significant risk of cancer in these two regions, and how this was affected by GP demographics. Design: A survey of GPs using clinical vignettes. Setting: General Practice in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Subjects: General Practitioners. Outcome measures: A regional comparison of GPs' stated immediate diagnostic actions (whether or not they would perform a key diagnostic test and/or refer to a specialist) for patients with a low but significant risk of cancer (between 1.2 and 3.6%). Results: Of the 427 GPs that completed the questionnaire, those in the Baltic states, and GPs that were more experienced, were more likely to arrange a key diagnostic test and/or refer their patient to a specialist than those in Nordic Countries or who were less experienced (p < 0.001 for both measures). Neither GP sex nor practice location within a country showed a significant association with these measures. Conclusion: While relative one-year cancer survival rates are lower in the Baltic states than in four Nordic countries, we found no evidence that this is due to their GPs' reluctance to take immediate diagnostic action, as GPs in the Baltic states were more likely to investigate and/or refer at the first consultation. Research on patient and secondary care factors is needed to explain the survival differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 02813432 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/02813432.2025.2451653 |
