Demographic and psychological predictors of community pharmacists' cancer-related conversations with patients: a cross-sectional analysis and survey study

Robert S Kerrison; Anna Robinson; Hanna Skrobanski; Ghalia Kayal; Aradhna Kaushal; Charlotte Ide-Walters; Adam Todd; Andrew Husband; Shivali Lakhani; Marsha Alter; Christian von Wagner; Lindsay MacDonald

doi:10.1186/s12913-022-07587-1

Demographic and psychological predictors of community pharmacists' cancer-related conversations with patients: a cross-sectional analysis and survey study

BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Feb 28;22(1):268. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-07587-1.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK. R.Kerrison@Surrey.ac.uk.
² School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
³ School of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK.
⁴ Acaster Lloyd Consulting Ltd, London, UK.
⁵ Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK.
⁶ Cancer Intelligence Team, Cancer Research UK, London, UK.
⁷ School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK.
⁸ Middlesex Group of Local Pharmaceutical Committees, London, UK.

Abstract

Background: There is increasing interest in the role of community pharmacy in the early diagnosis and prevention of cancer. This study set out to examine how often community pharmacists (CPs) encourage patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer, and how often they help people to make an informed decision about taking part in bowel cancer screening.

Methods: Data from 400 UK CPs, who completed the 2018 Cancer Research UK Healthcare Professional Tracker survey, were analysed. The primary outcomes were: 'how often CPs encourage patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer' and 'how often CPs encourage eligible people to make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening'. Associations between behaviours and demographic and psychological variables (Capability, Opportunity and Motivation) were assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Most (n = 331, 82.8%) CPs reported occasionally, frequently or always encouraging patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer, while only half (n = 203, 50.8%) reported occasionally, frequently or always helping people make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening. Female sex (aOR: 3.20, 95%CI: 1.51, 6.81; p < 0.01) and increased Opportunity (aOR: 1.72, 95%CIs: 1.12, 2.64; p < 0.05) and Motivation (aOR: 1.76, 95%CIs: 1.37, 2.27; p < 0.001) were associated with encouraging patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer; all three psychological variables were associated with helping people to make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening (Capability: aOR: 1.39, 95%CIs: 1.26, 1.52, p < 0.001; Opportunity: aOR: 1.44, 95%CIs: 1.11, 1.87; p < 0.01; Motivation: aOR: 1.45, 95%CIs: 1.05, 2.00; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Most CPs encourage patients to spot or respond to potential cancer symptoms, while only half help them make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening. A multifaceted approach, targeting multiple COM-B components, is required to change these behaviours.

Keywords: Bowel Cancer; Cancer; Community Pharmacy; Early Diagnosis; Prevention; Screening.

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel
Community Pharmacy Services*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Demography
Female
Humans
Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Pharmacists / psychology

Abstract

MeSH terms

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