How do general practitioners manage patients with cancer symptoms? A video-vignette study

OBJECTIVES: Determine how general practitioners (GPs) manage patients with cancer symptoms. DESIGN: GPs reviewed 24 video-vignettes and case notes on patients with cancer symptoms and indicated whether they would refer the patient and/or prescribe medication, and/or undertake further investigation. According to available guidelines, all cases warranted a referral to a specialist or further investigations. SETTING: Australian primary care sector. PARTICIPANTS: 102 practising GPs participated in this study, including trainees. INTERVENTIONS: The research was part of a larger randomised controlled trial testing a referral pro forma; however, this paper reports on management decisions made throughout the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: This paper reports on how the participants would manage the patients depicted in each vignette. RESULTS: In more than one-in-eight cases, the patient was not investigated or referred. Patient management varied significantly by cancer type (p