21 Barriers to and Facilitators of Patient Engagement in the Lung Cancer Pathway: an Interview Study Exploring the Impact of Distance and Disadvantage in an Urban Setting

The National Optimal Lung Cancer Pathway (NOLCP) was introduced by the NHS to improve timelier diagnosis and staging, enabling patients to progress rapidly to optimal treatment. While care pathways can be streamlined, contextual factors may compromise patient engagement with their care. Northeast London is ethnically diverse and highly deprived; two factors associated with difficulty navigating care systems and increased cancer mortality. This study aims to explore how patient and carer characteristics, and factors related to their location, interact to influence patients' capability, opportunity, and motivation to engage with the NOLCP and improve patient outcomes.