BMJ open respiratory research · 2026
Community pharmacy and lung cancer: a service innovation pilot using community pharmacy across Leeds to signpost patients with symptoms of possible lung cancers towards a patient self-request chest X-ray service.
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Walker Andrew, Bradley Stephen H, Daniels Tom, Bhartia Bobby S K, Callister Matthew E J
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: Survival rates from lung cancer in the UK are inferior to those experienced in other high-income countries. Improving access to investigations for people with symptoms may offer some utility to address this. This pilot investigated the potential of community pharmacy to identify and signpost people with symptoms of possible lung cancer towards an existing self-request chest X-ray service (SRCXRS) in Leeds.
METHODS: All community pharmacies across Leeds were invited to participate in this pilot. 27 completed necessary staff training and signposted people with symptoms of possible lung cancer towards the SRCXRS between March and September 2024. Eligibility was assessed using the existing SRCXRS criteria. Limited non-identifiable data were captured regarding the basic demographics, symptoms and medication history of people signposted. People who were signposted were provided with a unique numbered card to facilitate analysis of attendance data. Pharmacy data were used in conjunction with routinely collected attendance data from the SRCXRS.
RESULTS: 491 people were signposted by community pharmacies (2.83 patients/pharmacy/month). 32 people signposted attended the SRCXRS. All fulfilled the eligibility criteria to receive a chest X-ray. Nine attended with the unique number card. There was no clear evidence of difference in likelihood to attend based on Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) status (IMD 1-5=6.06% vs IMD 6-10=6.92%, relative risk=0.88 p=0.7) or age (p=0.42). Route to attendance data was not collected in 34.9% (n=235) of all attendees of the SRCXR during the pilot period.
CONCLUSION: This pilot demonstrates that pharmacies were able to successfully identify and signpost people with symptoms of possible lung cancer. Results indicate that using community pharmacies in this capacity did not impact the likelihood of signposted patients to attend the SRCXRS based on age or IMD status. The reported outcomes are limited by a significant proportion of incomplete data regarding patients' route to attendance at the SRCXRS.
METHODS: All community pharmacies across Leeds were invited to participate in this pilot. 27 completed necessary staff training and signposted people with symptoms of possible lung cancer towards the SRCXRS between March and September 2024. Eligibility was assessed using the existing SRCXRS criteria. Limited non-identifiable data were captured regarding the basic demographics, symptoms and medication history of people signposted. People who were signposted were provided with a unique numbered card to facilitate analysis of attendance data. Pharmacy data were used in conjunction with routinely collected attendance data from the SRCXRS.
RESULTS: 491 people were signposted by community pharmacies (2.83 patients/pharmacy/month). 32 people signposted attended the SRCXRS. All fulfilled the eligibility criteria to receive a chest X-ray. Nine attended with the unique number card. There was no clear evidence of difference in likelihood to attend based on Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) status (IMD 1-5=6.06% vs IMD 6-10=6.92%, relative risk=0.88 p=0.7) or age (p=0.42). Route to attendance data was not collected in 34.9% (n=235) of all attendees of the SRCXR during the pilot period.
CONCLUSION: This pilot demonstrates that pharmacies were able to successfully identify and signpost people with symptoms of possible lung cancer. Results indicate that using community pharmacies in this capacity did not impact the likelihood of signposted patients to attend the SRCXRS based on age or IMD status. The reported outcomes are limited by a significant proportion of incomplete data regarding patients' route to attendance at the SRCXRS.