Primary care characteristics and stage of cancer at diagnosis using data from the national cancer registration service, quality outcomes framework and general practice information

TL;DR

This study explores how primary care features in England affect the stage at which cancer is diagnosed, focusing on breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers.

Contribution

The study identifies specific primary care characteristics linked to later-stage cancer diagnosis, suggesting targeted improvements could enhance cancer outcomes.

Findings

Higher two-week wait referral rates in primary care are associated with lower proportions of later-stage breast and lung cancers.

Practices with more patients per GP correlate with higher proportions of advanced lung cancer.

Increased gastrointestinal investigations are linked to fewer late-stage colorectal cancers.

Abstract

Survival from cancer is worse in England than in some European countries. To improve survival, strategies in England have focused on early presentation (reducing delay to improve stage at diagnosis), improving quality of care and ensuring equity throughout the patient pathway. We assessed whether primary care characteristics were associated with later stage cancer at diagnosis (stages 3/4 versus 1/2) for female breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer.

Data obtained from the National Cancer Registration Service, Quality Outcomes Framework, GP survey and GP workforce census, linked by practice code. Risk differences (RD) were calculated by primary care characteristics using a generalised linear model, accounting for patient clustering within practices. Models were adjusted for age, sex and an area-based deprivation measure.

For female breast cancer, being with a practice with a higher two week wait (TWW) referral rate (RD −1.8 % (95 % CI −0.5 % to −3.2 %) p = 0.003) and a higher TWW detection rate (RD −1.7 % (95 % CI −0.3 % to −3.0 %) p = 0.003) was associated with a lower proportion diagnosed later. Being at a practice where people thought it less easy to book at appointment was associated with a higher percentage diagnosed later (RD 1.8 % (95 % CI 0.2 % to 3.4 %) p = 0.03). For lung cancer, being at practices with higher TWW referral rates was associated with lower proportion advanced (RD-3.6 % (95 % CI −1.8 %, −5.5 %) p < 0.001) whereas being at practices with more patients per GP was associated with higher proportion advanced (RD1.8 % (95 % CI 0.2, 3.4) p = 0.01). A higher rate of gastrointestinal investigations was associated with a lower proportion of later stage colorectal cancers (RD −2.0 % (95 % CI −0.6 % to −3.6 %) p = 0.01). No organisational characteristics were associated with prostate cancer stage.

Easier access to primary care, faster referral and more investigation for gastrointestinal symptoms could reduce the proportion of people diagnosed later for female breast, lung and colorectal, but not prostate cancer. Differences between the four main cancers suggest different policies may be required for individual cancers to improve outcomes.

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1497-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Figures