Strengths and limitations
Equal numbers of GPs and nurses (PNs and NPs) were interviewed who ranged in age and experience of clinical practice. As many of the structural characteristics of the practices were similar, and practices consenting to take part may have been more research active or have a particular interest in cancer, greater diversity in terms of location, practice size, and practice organisation, as well as sites that are non- research active, may add additional depth to the results in future studies. The interview schedule was broad and not based on the CFIR constructs as the interviews focused on participants’ experiences of using the tool through case studies and their general views on implementation were based on their clinical experience. A greater focus on CFIR during the data collection stage may have resulted in a more nuanced discussion of specific elements. This study focused on GPs and nurses, as they are the PCPs most likely to use the tool in clinical practice, and data were not collected from allied healthcare professionals (for example, healthcare assistants and practice pharmacists) or key stakeholders (for example, patients, commissioners, and policymakers) who would be able to give insight into other domains of CFIR.
Comparison with existing literature
While the data from the interviews (further supported by videos from the vignette- based case studies) indicated that the CanRisk tool was considered accessible and easy to navigate, there were concerns about whether PCPs could complete a risk calculation and offer appropriate counselling to the patient within a typical UK primary care appointment (which is an average of 10.9 minutes).16 This is consistent with the authors’ previous work exploring the acceptability of the CanRisk tool in multiple settings and countries,7 as well as the broader body of literature around incorporating cancer risk assessment into practice.9,10,17,18 As a way of reducing the amount of time needed to complete a CanRisk calculation in clinic, the development of a patient-facing version of the tool received broad support.
While some of the data required to complete the CanRisk tool (for example, body mass index [BMI] and contraceptive use) may be easily entered into a patient- facing version of the tool, collecting information on family history is more challenging. Despite an established need for family history data collection tools,19,20 and several having been designed specifically for use in primary care21 and/or cancer care,22 even highly promising tools23– 29 are not currently routinely used in UK primary care, owing to the time they take to complete, the accuracy of information collected, and the need to update them over time. With these points in mind, any development of a patient-facing version of the CanRisk tool that includes family history should use the gold standard of user-centred design,30,31 take into account the elements of existing designs that have already been tested, and undertake appropriate evaluation and validation studies.
Consistent with previous research,9,10 the present study shows that integrating the CanRisk tool with existing NHS IT infrastructure is essential for successful implementation in primary care. There are important issues for complex digital multifactorial risk prediction tools, such as CanRisk, as the fragmented local governance structure would require the CanRisk tool to be approved and adopted by governance and IT teams on a service- by-service basis, or the BOADICEA model becoming integrated within existing EHRs (for example, EMIS or TTP) or via third-party providers (for example, Ardens). The integration and implementation of new technology within the NHS has traditionally been a complex and lengthy process. However, the transformation of digital services, following the unprecedented need to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, may be of benefit in facilitating the use of the CanRisk tool in primary care and sharing and updating the results within a range of services within the NHS.32–34
As in other studies, the participants in the present study described that primary care presents a clear opportunity for CanRisk to identify patients at increased risk of cancer who would benefit from interventions focusing on early detection and prevention.10,35 However, the potential benefits of using the CanRisk tool were juxtaposed to the increased effort in conducting the risk assessment, and receiving training on how to do so, in a setting where there appears to be an ever- increasing workload and rapidly dwindling resources.36–38 Several suggestions were put forward that focused on regular women’s health appointments (for example, contraceptive-pill checks and HRT appointments), which may be suitable as they provide opportunities to i) approach the topic of risk assessment as part of a wider conversation on cancer risks, and ii) easily talk about hormonal and lifestyle risk factors that may contribute to their risk score.39
The study identified that training and capacity building within healthcare teams is likely to have a significant role in the implementation of the CanRisk tool. The development of bespoke training resources around CanRisk is required but, for now, centralised genetics-focused training initiatives (for example, GeNotes40 and QGenome41) may be helpful in improving knowledge, skills, and attitudes around taking and understanding family histories. A lack of knowledge around breast cancer and a lack of experience of risk-reducing medication were also cited as potential barriers to implementation. While training on these topics was highly desirable, the participants were concerned about the competing demands in clinical practice, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, any educational intervention designed to provide PCPs with the knowledge and skills to use the CanRisk tool should consider the best mode of delivery42,43 and if protected learning time is required.
Implications for research and practice
Based on the findings from this study, future work to facilitate the implementation of the CanRisk tool in primary care should focus on four main areas. The first area is developing a user- friendly interface that allows patients to enter some of the risk factor information before a clinical appointment. The second is establishing a mechanism for the integration of the CanRisk tool within the EHRs used in the primary care setting. The third is exploring and testing which clinical appointments might be most appropriate for introducing and performing a CanRisk calculation. The final area is developing a training package to support healthcare practitioners to use the tool, interpret the findings, and make choices about the next steps following the risk assessment.
In conclusion, a range of barriers to the implementation of the CanRisk tool in primary care exist, predominantly focusing on the amount of time needed to complete the assessment using the tool, the need for integration with existing IT systems, realising the opportunity in the context of competing demands on PCPs’ time, and the need for training on a range of clinical topics. Future work to overcome these barriers will be prioritised following the recommendations presented here.