Influences of rurality on action to diagnose cancer by primary care practitioners - Results from a Europe-wide survey in 20 countries.

•Rural cancer patients have poorer cancer outcomes than urban counterparts.•The study reports data from 1779 primary care practitioners from across Europe.•European rural primary care practitioners have less direct access to cancer investigations.•But European rural practitioners take diagnostic action for potential cancer just as promptly.•Service organization is a more likely cause of rural cancer inequality than practitioner behaviour.