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Interventions to promote cancer awareness and early presentation: Systematic review

Austoker, J., Bankhead, C., Forbes, L.J.L., Atkins, L., Martin, F., Robb, K., Wardle, J., Ramirez, A.J. (2009) Interventions to promote cancer awareness and early presentation: Systematic review. British Journal of Cancer, 101 . S31-S39. E-ISSN 1532-1827. (doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605388) (KAR id:77965)

Abstract

Background: Low cancer awareness contributes to delay in presentation for cancer symptoms and may lead to delay in cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to review the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to raise cancer awareness and promote early presentation in cancer to inform policy and future research.

Methods: We searched bibliographic databases and reference lists for randomised controlled trials of interventions delivered to individuals, and controlled or uncontrolled studies of interventions delivered to communities.

Results: We found some evidence that interventions delivered to individuals modestly increase cancer awareness in the short term and insufficient evidence that they promote early presentation. We found limited evidence that public education campaigns reduce stage at presentation of breast cancer, malignant melanoma and retinoblastoma.

Conclusions: Interventions delivered to individuals may increase cancer awareness. Interventions delivered to communities may promote cancer awareness and early presentation, although the evidence is limited.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605388
Additional information: Unmapped bibliographic data: DB - Scopus [Field not mapped to EPrints] M3 - Article [Field not mapped to EPrints]
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology
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: 28 Oct 2019 11:33 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:26 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/77965 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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