XXXX perceptions and experiences of public awareness campaigns for @entity5 : a qualitative enquiry.

@entity5 @entity1 @entity6432
BACKGROUND: Public awareness campaigns for @entity5 are used to alert the UK population to symptoms which, if experienced, should be discussed with their general practitioner (GP). More timely diagnosis of @entity5 is assumed possible if @entity1 with the appropriate symptoms present to GPs and GPs recognise the need to act on these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To investigate @entity6432 perceptions and experiences of public awareness campaigns for @entity5 . METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 55 GPs from practices in the North and North East of England and Greater London. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Repeated reading of GP transcripts engendered thematic analysis and co-coding ensured legitimacy of findings. RESULTS: @entity1 supported the underpinning ethos of public health campaigns and articulated a commitment to engaging with @entity1 with respect to @entity5 warning signs and symptoms despite the common perception that public awareness campaigns increased numbers of consultations. Tensions were evident with regard to increased demands on GP time and primary care resources during a period of major upheaval within the NHS. Concern was raised that some @entity1 remain outwith the reach of campaign messages. The complexity of addressing how public health messages compete with other issues in @entity1 's lives was identified as challenging. CONCLUSIONS: General practitioners provided insight into why some members of the general public do not engage with public health messages. Public health/primary care interaction that incorporates @entity6432 knowledge of their @entity1 populations could advance the search for solutions to a more robust approach to earlier @entity5 recognition and referral in primary care.
