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Promoting early presentation of breast cancer in women over 70 years old in general practice

Campbell, Jackie, Pyer, M., Rogers, S., Jones, J., Ramirez, A.J., Forbes, Lindsay J.L. (2015) Promoting early presentation of breast cancer in women over 70 years old in general practice. Journal of Public Health, . ISSN 1741-3842. E-ISSN 1741-3850. (doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdv125) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:53694)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdv125

Abstract

Background Delay in presentation contributes to poorer survival of older women with breast cancer. Research has shown the effectiveness of the promoting early presentation (PEP) intervention when delivered by radiographers in the NHS Breast Screening Programme. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the intervention when delivered by practice nurses in general practice.

Methods The Breast Cancer Awareness Measure was used to compare participants' awareness of breast cancer before, 1 month after and 12 months after the delivery of the PEP intervention. Five hundred and fifty-six women aged over 70 years took part, 308 of whom returned all three surveys.

Results The intervention was associated with increased awareness of non-lump breast symptoms and reported breast check frequency. There was a marked increase in breast cancer awareness which persisted for 12 months. Less than 5% of women were classified as ‘breast cancer aware’ before the intervention, rising to over 25% 1 month afterwards. This percentage dropped slightly after 1 year to just below 20%.

Conclusion Delivery of the PEP intervention in general practice was very effective at raising the awareness of breast cancer among older women. Primary care settings are well placed to enhance the reach of this kind of intervention to at-risk women.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/pubmed/fdv125
Uncontrolled keywords: cancer, primary care, public health
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC78.7.T6 Tomography
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC952 Geriatrics
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Lindsay Forbes
Date Deposited: 12 Jan 2016 16:13 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 11:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/53694 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Forbes, Lindsay J.L..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4654-9520
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