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Koskela TH, Esteva M, Mangione M, Contreras Martos S, Hajdarevic S, Högberg C, Marzo-Castillejo M, Sawicka-Powierza J, Siliņa V, Harris M, Petek D. What would primary care practitioners do differently after a delayed cancer diagnosis? Learning lessons from their experiences. Scand J Prim Health Care 2024; 42:123-131. [PMID: 38116949 PMCID: PMC10851834 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2023.2296117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diagnosis of cancer is challenging in primary care due to the low incidence of cancer cases in primary care practice. A prolonged diagnostic interval may be due to doctor, patient or system factors, or may be due to the characteristics of the cancer itself. The objective of this study was to learn from Primary Care Physicians' (PCP) experiences of incidents when they had failed to think of, or act on, a cancer diagnosis. DESIGN A qualitative, online survey eliciting PCP narratives. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. SETTING AND SUBJECTS A primary care study, with narratives from 159 PCPs in 23 European countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES PCPs' narratives on the question 'If you saw this patient with cancer presenting in the same way today, what would you do differently? RESULTS The main themes identified were: thinking broadly; improvement in communication and clinical management; use of other available resources and 'I wouldn't do anything differently'. CONCLUSION (IMPLICATIONS) To achieve more timely cancer diagnosis, PCPs need to provide a long-term, holistic and active approach with effective communication, and to ensure shared decision-making, follow-up and continuing re-assessment of the patients' clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomas H. Koskela
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Center of General Practice, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Magdalena Esteva
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | | | - Sara Contreras Martos
- Research Support Unit Metropolitana Sud, University Institute for Primary Health Care Research IDIAPJordi Gol, Catalan Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Senada Hajdarevic
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Högberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Research, Education and Development Östersund, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mercè Marzo-Castillejo
- Research Support Unit Metropolitana Sud, University Institute for Primary Health Care Research IDIAPJordi Gol, Catalan Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Vija Siliņa
- Department of Family Medicine, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Michael Harris
- Institute of Primary Health Care Bern (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- College of Medicine & Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Davorina Petek
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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2
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Danckert B, Christensen NL, Falborg AZ, Frederiksen H, Lyratzopoulos G, McPhail S, Pedersen AF, Ryg J, Thomsen LA, Vedsted P, Jensen H. Assessing how routes to diagnosis vary by the age of patients with cancer: a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:906. [PMID: 35986279 PMCID: PMC9392355 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09937-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older patients with cancer have poorer prognosis compared to younger patients. Moreover, prognosis is related to how cancer is identified, and where in the healthcare system patients present, i.e. routes to diagnosis (RtD). We investigated whether RtD varied by patients' age. METHODS This population-based national cohort study used Danish registry data. Patients were categorized into age groups and eight mutually exclusive RtD. We employed multinomial logistic regressions adjusted for sex, region, diagnosis year, cohabitation, education, income, immigration status and comorbidities. Screened and non-screened patients were analysed separately. RESULTS The study included 137,876 patients. Both younger and older patients with cancer were less likely to get diagnosed after a cancer patient pathways referral from primary care physician compared to middle-aged patients. Older patients were more likely to get diagnosed via unplanned admission, death certificate only, and outpatient admission compared to younger patients. The patterns were similar across comorbidity levels. CONCLUSIONS RtD varied by age groups, and middle-aged patients were the most likely to get diagnosed after cancer patient pathways with referral from primary care. Emphasis should be put on raising clinicians' awareness of cancer being the underlying cause of symptoms in both younger patients and in older patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Danckert
- The Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - N L Christensen
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - A Z Falborg
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - H Frederiksen
- Haematological Research Unit, Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - G Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - S McPhail
- National Disease Registration Service, NHS Digital, Leeds, UK
| | - A F Pedersen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - J Ryg
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - L A Thomsen
- The Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - H Jensen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Petersen GS, Laursen SGW, Jensen H, Maindal HT, Pedersen AF, Vedsted P, Virgilsen LF. Patients' health literacy is associated with timely diagnosis of cancer-A cross-sectional study in Denmark. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2021; 31:e13532. [PMID: 34704640 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Timely diagnosis of cancer is important for prognosis. Patients' health literacy (HL) may impact differences of diagnostic delays. Thus, we aim to explore the association between HL and diagnostic intervals in cancer. METHODS Questionnaire data were obtained from patients with cancer diagnosed in 2016 and their general practitioner (n = 3890). The primary care interval (PCI) and the diagnostic interval (DI) were calculated using dates from national registries and questionnaires. A long PCI and DI were defined as ≥75th percentile. HL was assessed using scales from the Health Literacy Questionnaire: engaging with healthcare providers (scale 6:Engagement, n = 3008), navigating in healthcare (scale 7:Navigation, n = 2827) and understanding health information (scale 9:Knowledge, n = 3002). Low HL was defined as a score ≤3. RESULTS Low HL was reported by 12.2% (Engagement), 27.0% (Navigation) and 9.3% (Knowledge) of the patients and associated with a long PCI after adjustment of socio-economic factors: Engagement (prevalence rate ratio [PRR] 1.27 [95% CI 1.01-1.60]), Navigation (PRR 1.41 [95% CI 1.10-1.80]) and Knowledge (PRR 1.32 [95% CI 1.03-1.68]). No association was found between HL and DI. CONCLUSION HL may interfere with the diagnostic processes in general practice. Efforts to manage low HL include GPs' awareness of patients' ability to explain and respond to bodily changes and use of corresponding safety-netting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henry Jensen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Anette F Pedersen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Line Flytkjaer Virgilsen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus, Denmark
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Virgilsen LF, Pedersen AF, Vedsted P, Petersen GS, Jensen H. Alignment between the patient's cancer worry and the GP's cancer suspicion and the association with the interval between first symptom presentation and referral: a cross-sectional study in Denmark. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:129. [PMID: 34167486 PMCID: PMC8228922 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01480-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) have a key role in the diagnosis of cancer. It is crucial to identify factors influencing the decision to refer for suspected cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the alignment between the patient's cancer worry and the GP's suspicion of cancer in the first clinical encounter and the association with the time interval from the first symptom presentation until the first referral to specialist care, i.e. the primary care interval (PCI). METHOD The study was performed as a cross-sectional study using survey data on patients diagnosed with incident cancer in 2010 or 2016 and their GPs in Denmark. We defined four alignment groups: 1) patient worry and GP suspicion, 2) GP suspicion only, 3) patient worry only, and 4) none of the two. A long PCI was defined as an interval longer than the 75th percentile. RESULTS Among the 3333 included patients, both patient worry and GP suspicion was seen in 39.5%, only GP suspicion was seen in 28.2%, only patient worry was seen in 13.6%, and neither patient worry nor GP suspicion was seen in 18.2%. The highest likelihood of long PCI was observed in group 4 (group 4 vs. group 1: PPR 3.99 (95% CI 3.34-4.75)), mostly pronounced for easy-to-diagnose cancer types. CONCLUSION Misalignment between the patient's worry and the GP's suspicion was common at the first cancer-related encounter. Importance should be given to the patient interview, due to a potential delayed GP referral among patients diagnosed with "easy-to-diagnose" cancer types presenting with unspecific symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Flytkjær Virgilsen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Research Unit for General Practice, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Anette Fischer Pedersen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Research Unit for General Practice, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, 8200, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Research Unit for General Practice, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, 8200, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Henry Jensen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Research Unit for General Practice, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Virgilsen LF, Jensen H, Pedersen AF, Zalounina Falborg A, Vedsted P. Patient's worry about cancer and the general practitioner's suspicion of cancer or serious illness: A population-based study in Denmark. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2021; 30:e13411. [PMID: 33511723 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A general practitioner's (GP's) suspicion of cancer is important to ensure early diagnosis of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the association between patients' cancer worry and GP's suspicion of cancer or serious illness. METHODS This population-based study was based on Danish register and questionnaire data from 4,175 incident cancer patients diagnosed in 2010 or 2016 and their GPs. The association between the patient's worry about cancer and their GP's suspicion of cancer or serious illness was estimated by generalised linear models with log link for the Poisson family and presented in prevalence rate ratios (PRR). RESULTS For 6 in 10 of the cases, the first consultation was categorised by absence of both or either patient worry or GP suspicion. When patients worried about cancer, the GPs were more likely to suspect cancer or serious illness in patients (PRR=1.26, (95%CI: 1.20-1.34)). For all levels of patient worry and most pronounced among very worried patients, GPs less often suspected cancer or serious illness in patients who presented with an ´intermediate´ or ´hard´ to diagnose cancer. CONCLUSION GPs were more likely to suspect cancer or serious illness in patients who worried about cancer at the first presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Flytkjaer Virgilsen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Henry Jensen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anette Fischer Pedersen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Alina Zalounina Falborg
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care (CaP), Aarhus C, Denmark
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Zhou Y, Abel GA, Hamilton W, Singh H, Walter FM, Lyratzopoulos G. Imaging activity possibly signalling missed diagnostic opportunities in bladder and kidney cancer: A longitudinal data-linkage study using primary care electronic health records. Cancer Epidemiol 2020; 66:101703. [PMID: 32334389 PMCID: PMC7294227 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sub-optimal use or interpretation of imaging investigations prior to diagnosis of certain cancers may be associated with less timely diagnosis, but pre-diagnostic imaging activity for urological cancer is unknown. METHOD We analysed linked data derived from primary and secondary care records and cancer registration to evaluate the use of clinically relevant imaging tests pre-diagnosis, in patients with bladder and kidney cancer diagnosed in 2012-15 in England. As pre-diagnostic imaging activity increased from background rate 8 months pre-diagnosis, we used logistic regression to determine factors associated with first imaging test occurring 4-8 months pre-diagnosis, considering that such instances may reflect possible missed opportunities for expediting the diagnosis. RESULTS 1963 patients with bladder or kidney cancer had at least one imaging test in the 8 months pre-diagnosis. 420 (21%) of patients had their first imaging test 4-8 months pre-diagnosis, that being ultrasound, CT and X-ray in 48%, 43% and 9% of those cases, respectively. Factors associated with greater risk of a first imaging test 4-8 months pre-diagnosis were kidney cancer, diagnosis at stages other than stage IV, first imaging having been an X-ray, test requested by GP and absence of haematuria before the imaging request. CONCLUSION About 1 in 5 patients with urological cancers receive relevant first imaging investigations 4-8 months prior to diagnosis, which may represent potential missed diagnostic opportunities for earlier diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhou
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Gary A Abel
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), Exeter, UK
| | - William Hamilton
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), Exeter, UK
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fiona M Walter
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
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Hultstrand C, Coe AB, Lilja M, Hajdarevic S. GPs' perspectives of the patient encounter - in the context of standardized cancer patient pathways. Scand J Prim Health Care 2020; 38:238-247. [PMID: 32314634 PMCID: PMC8570742 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2020.1753388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: We aim to explore how GPs assign meanings and act upon patients' symptoms in primary care encounters in the context of standardized cancer patient pathways (CPPs).Design, setting and subjects: Thirteen individual interviews were conducted with GPs, at primary healthcare centers (n = 4) in one county in northern Sweden. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory method. The results were then linked to symbolic interactionism.Main outcome measures: GPs' perspectives about assigning meanings to patients' presented symptoms and perception about CPPs.Results: In the encounter, GPs engaged in two simultaneous interactions, one with patients' symptoms - and the other with CPPs. The core category Disentangling patients' care trajectory consists of three categories, interpreted as GPs' strategies developed to assign meaning to symptoms. These strategies are carried out not in a straightforward manner but rather in a conflicting way, illuminating the complexity of GPs' daily work.Conclusions: Interacting with patients is vital for assigning meaning to presented symptoms. However, nowadays GPs are not only required to interact with patients, they are also required to interact with CPPs. These standardized routines might create pressure and demands on GPs, especially for those experiencing a lack of information about CPPs. Beside of carrying out the challenging patient/person-centered dialogues and interpreting presented symptoms, GPs also need to link the interpreted symptoms to CPPs. Therefore, it is essential that GPs are given opportunities at their workplaces to continuously be informed and be supported in order to practice CPPs and thereby optimize trajectories for patients undergoing cancer diagnostics.Key points Current awareness: • GPs deliberation about patients' trajectories is a complex process, often dealing with vague symptoms. How CPPs influence this process within the encounter has not been studied. Main statements: • GPs in our study were involved in two simultaneous interactions, one with patients' symptoms in the encounter - and the other with CPPs within the healthcare organization. • Symbolic interactionism helped capture how GPs deliberated about conflicting and paradoxical aspects of the encounter, in terms of balancing two contradictory ways of action that GPs face when providing patient/person-centered care and linking to CPPs. • Based on our results, primary care needs support from healthcare organizations to build capacity about CPPs and how to use them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Hultstrand
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;
- CONTACT Cecilia Hultstrand Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
| | | | - Mikael Lilja
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Research, Education, and Development, Östersund Hospital, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Senada Hajdarevic
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;
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Jensen H, Møller H, Vedsted P. Characteristics of customary non-attenders in general practice who are diagnosed with cancer: A cross-sectional study in Denmark. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2019; 28:e13143. [PMID: 31433525 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore individual and structural factors in patients with cancer and their potential association with customary non-attendance in general practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of all patients aged 50-89 years who were diagnosed with an incident cancer in 2009-2013 in Denmark. We investigated associations between being a customary non-attender (defined as having no consultations in general practice in the 19-36 months before diagnosis) and selected patient-related factors (demography, socioeconomic status), health-related factors (multimorbidity) and structural factors (urbanisation degree, list size of general practice and use of out-of-hours services) using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 123,943 cancer patients were included; 11,567 (9.3%) of these were non-attenders. Non-attendance was associated with being more than 70 years of age, being single, having short or long education and being financially affluent. Non-attendance was rarely seen in cancer patients with (multi)morbidity, in individuals living in an area with 2,000-99,999 inhabitants and in individuals having contact with the out-of-hours services. CONCLUSION Specific groups of cancer patients were more often customary non-attenders in general practice. General practice may need to reach out more directly to these patients to ensure more timely cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Jensen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henrik Møller
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,The Danish Clinical Registries (RKKP), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
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