Patients’ “gut feelings” about symptoms should be taken seriously, say researchers

Some patients report not being taken seriously by doctors and this can deter them from making a repeat consultation for persistent symptoms, a qualitative analysis published in the British Journal of General Practice has found.1

The researchers analysed free text comments at the end of a recent International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership survey carried out in Wales. Of the 905 patients with newly diagnosed breast, ovarian, colorectal, or lung cancer who returned the questionnaire, 530 included comments in the free text section.

The analysis showed a range of factors that patients …