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Table 1 Responses to questions about anticipated patient intervals and symptom awareness and how they were classified

From: Negative cancer beliefs, recognition of cancer symptoms and anticipated time to help-seeking: an international cancer benchmarking partnership (ICBP) study

Dependent variables: Anticipated patient intervals

 

How long would it take you to go to the doctor from the first time you noticed a persistent cough?

How long would it take you to go to the doctor from the first time you noticed rectal bleeding?

Response categories:

N (%)

Classification

N (%)

Classification

I would go as soon as I noticed

2669 (12.8)

Short pt. interval

12,617 (60.6)

Short pt. interval

Up to 1 week

3750 (18.0)

Short pt. interval

5017 (24.1)

Short pt. interval

Over 1 up to 2 weeks

4029 (19.4)

Short pt. interval

1323 (6.4)

Long pt. interval

Over 2 up to 3 weeks

3001 (14.4)

Short pt. interval

518 (2.5)

Long pt. interval

Over 3 up to 4 weeks

2557 (12.3)

Short pt. interval

357 (1.7)

Long pt. interval

More than a month

3267 (15.7)

Long pt. interval

488 (2.3)

Long pt. interval

I would not contact a/my doctor

844 (4.1)

Long pt. interval

171 (0.8)

Long pt. interval

I would go to another HCP

320 (1.5)

Missing

141 (0.7)

Missing

Don’t know

355 (1.7)

Missing

164 (0.8)

Missing

Don’t want to answer

22 (0.1)

Missing

18 (0.1)

Missing

Independent variables: Recognition of symptoms as cancer symptoms

 

Do you think persistent cough or hoarseness could be a warning sign for cancer?

Do you think unexplained bleeding could be a warning sign for cancer?

Response categories:

N (%)

Classification

N (%)

Classification

Yes

15,155 (72.8)

Recognition

18,187 (87.4)

Recognition

No

4951 (23.8)

Non-recognition

2018 (9.7)

Non-recognition

Don’t know

693 (3.3)

Missing

598 (2.9)

Missing

Don’t want to answer

15 (7.2)

Missing

11 (0.0)

Missing

Independent variable/moderator: Negative cancer beliefs (NCBs)

Answers classified as NCBs are highlighted in bold.

The answers “don’t know” and “don’t want to answer” were classified as missing.

 

Strongly disagree or tend to disagree

Strongly agree or tend to agree

Don’t know or refused

 

N (%)

N (%)

N (%)

People with cancer can expect to continue with normal activities

1936 (9.3)

18,187 (87.4)

691 (3.3)

Cancer can often be cured

1853 (8.9)

18,502 (88.9)

459 (2.2)

Going to the doctor as quickly as possible after noticing a symptom of cancer could increase the chances of surviving

394 (1.9)

20,310 (97.6)

110 (0.5)

Cancer treatment is worse than the cancer itself

7196 (34.6)

11,082 (53.2)

2536 (12.2)

I would not want to know if I have cancer

18,004 (86.5)

2337 (11.2)

473 (2.3)

A diagnosis of cancer is a death sentence

14,995 (72.0)

5110 (24.6)

709 (3.4)

  1. HCP = Healthcare professional; pt. = patient