However, these changes were not accompanied by increases in GP attendances. There were small favourable statistically significant and clinically important changes over 2 years in 11 of the 15 metrics measured, including a 2.11% (95% confidence interval 1.02–3.20, p < 0.001) improvement in the percentage of lung cancers diagnosed at an early stage.
The effects of the campaign on awareness of lung cancer symptoms were evaluated using bespoke surveys. Trends in metrics over the whole period were also considered. The primary analysis compared 2015 with 2017. MethodĪ prospectively planned pre–post evaluation was done using routinely collected data on 15 metrics, including GP attendance, GP referral, emergency presentations, cancers diagnosed (five metrics), cancer stage, investigations (two metrics), outpatient attendances, inpatient admissions, major lung resections and 1-year survival. A two-phase ‘respiratory symptoms’ mass media campaign was conducted in 20 in England raising awareness of cough and worsening shortness of breath as symptoms warranting a general practitioner (GP) visit.
