Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women globally. Sex and advancing age represent the dominant risk factors, with strong evidence of alcohol as a modifiable risk factor. The carcinogenic nature of alcohol has been known for over twenty years; however, this has failed to translate into significant behavioural, practice, or policy change. As a result, women have not benefitted from this research and, by extension, have been exposed to unnecessary breast cancer risk. Participatory research presents a solution to research translation in public health through the collaboration of impacted populations with academics in research. This systematic review examines peer-reviewed research studies where participants were involved in the research process and the outcomes related to breast cancer prevention (either alcohol or broader lifestyle modification). Seven of the eight studies reported positive effects, and the collaboration between academic researchers and impacted populations may have supported positive outcomes. Women were receptive and responsive to participatory approaches, and their participation is important to address socially entrenched behaviours such as alcohol consumption. Participatory research presents opportunities for future interventions to improve (or address) modifiable risk factors for breast cancer.
Highlights
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women, with 2.3 million new cases diagnosed globally in 2020 [1]
This systematic review highlights the potential for participatory research in breast cancer prevention and the mechanisms that support effectiveness
The benefits of the Participatory action research (PAR) approach were the diverse perspectives brought to the research process, which influenced agenda setting, intervention design, and evaluation
Summary
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women, with 2.3 million new cases diagnosed globally in 2020 [1]. Population projections for future breast cancer incidence predict a significant increase due to aging populations [2]. Aging populations can increase demand on healthcare resources with a lower proportion of the population in the tax-paying workforce [3]. There is a strong need for sustainable and effective preventative interventions in breast cancer. This review synthesizes the literature to understand the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to inform future research. The mechanisms, the approaches to conducting research with communities through participatory research, will be examined to inform future primary prevention of breast cancer
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