Table 3 Clinicians’ identified top 10 solutions for delayed diagnosis in primary care
Rank | Suggestions for solutions to delayed diagnosis in primary care | Total priority score | Type of interventions to decrease delayed diagnosis | Breakdown points in the diagnostic process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | To have more rigorous systems in place for communicating abnormal results to patients | 92.3 | Structured-process change | Follow-up |
2 | Direct hotlines to specialists to discuss patient problems | 91.4 | Structured-process change | Referral & consultation |
3 | Clear referral guidelines and pathways for other common conditions (not just cancer) | 88.4 | Structured-process change | Referral & consultation |
4 | Improve handovers | 86.9 | Structured-process change | Referral & consultation |
6 | To have “affordable” GP update courses | 86.3 | Educational intervention | Patient-practitioner encounter |
5 | Better training of GPs in spotting warning signs of serious conditions, diagnosis that are easily missed and safety netting | 86.3 | Educational intervention | Patient-practitioner encounter |
7 | Review of every delayed diagnosis to learn how, why and whether it could be prevented in the future | 85.4 | Additional review & education | NA |
8 | Better ways of informing patients that their results are ready and what the next best steps would be | 84.8 | Structured-process change | Follow-up |
9 | Training in decision making and reinforcing the concept on ongoing reflection to continuous consideration of differential diagnosis | 84.5 | Educational intervention | Patient-practitioner encounter |
10 | Have easier access to secondary care for the patients that GPs are worried about | 83.9 | Structured-process change | Referral & consultation |