Uptake Of Cancer Screening Tests Research Articles

Cancer Screening Knowledge and Behavior in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population: The Singapore Community Health Study.

BackgroundCancer has become the leading cause of mortality in Singapore and among other Asian populations worldwide. Despite the presence of National Cancer Screening programmes in Singapore, less than half of the population has had timely screening according to guidelines. The underlying factors of poor cancer screening rates and health outcomes among Asian ethnic groups remain poorly understood. We therefore examined cancer screening participation rates and screening behavior in a multi-ethnic Singapore population.MethodsWe collected data from 7,125 respondents of the 2015–2016 Singapore Community Health Study. Factors associated with cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening were evaluated using modified Poisson regression. Adjusted prevalence ratios were computed with 95% confidence intervals after adjusting for confounders.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 57.7 ± 10.9 years; 58.9% were female and were predominately Chinese (73.0%), followed by Malay (14.2%), and Indian (10.9%). Less than half of the respondents in the recommended age groups had undergone cancer screening (cervical, 43%; breast, 35.1%; colorectal, 27.3%). Malay respondents were significantly less likely to screen as recommended for cervical (aPR = 0.75, CI = 0.65–0.86, p < 0.001), breast (aPR = 0.83, CI = 0.68–0.99, p = 0.045), and colorectal cancer (aPR = 0.55, CI = 0.44–0.68, p < 0.001), as compared to Chinese respondents. Respondents who had obtained lower secondary level education were 42% more likely to screen for cervical cancer (aPR = 1.42, CI = 1.23–1.64, p < 0.001), and 22% more likely to screen for breast cancer (aPR = 1.22, CI = 1.02–1.46, p = 0.032), compared to those with primary level education and below. Respondents with a household income ≥S$10,000/month were 71% more likely to screen for breast cancer (aPR = 1.71, CI = 1.37–2.13, p < 0.001), as compared with <$2,000/month.ConclusionsEthnicity and socio-economic status were significantly associated with lower uptake of cancer screening tests in Singapore. To improve the screening uptake among disadvantaged groups, a multi-faceted approach is needed that addresses the barriers to screening such as the adequacy of subsidy schemes and ethnic differences.

Educational pamphlets for improving uptake of cancer screening: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION The effectiveness of cancer screening programmes is highly dependent on screening uptake. Many interventions have been tested to increase screening uptake. AIM The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer screening pamphlets as a standalone intervention. The outcome of interest was uptake of cancer screening tests. METHODS A systematic review was performed on the effectiveness of pamphlets compared to usual care without pamphlets. We searched five databases for research papers in English from 2000 up to May 2019. Randomised controlled trials were included. This research group independently selected studies, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and then compared the information as a group. RESULTS A total of nine trials involving 4912 participants met our inclusion criteria, of which five were about colorectal cancer screening, three were about prostate cancer screening and one was about lung cancer screening. Five of the nine trials showed that pamphlets alone increased uptake significantly, while the remaining four trials did not show significant effects. DISCUSSION There is some evidence that pamphlets increase uptake for cancer screenings, especially for colorectal cancer. Due to the small number of studies in this area, generalisability could be limited.

Uptake of Cancer Screening Tests Among Recipients of Solid Organ Transplantation.

Population-based cancer screening recommendations are also suggested for solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR); however, recommendation adherence is unknown. In a population-based cohort of SOTR in Ontario between 1997 and 2010, we determined the uptake of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening tests and identified factors associated with up-to-date screening using recurrent event analysis. We identified 4436 SOTR eligible for colorectal, 2252 for cervical, and 1551 for breast cancer screening. Of those, 3437 (77.5%), 1572 (69.8%), and 1417 (91.4%), respectively, were not up-to-date for cancer screening tests during the observation period. However, these rates are likely an overestimate due to the inability to differentiate between tests done for screening or for diagnosis. SOTR with fewer comorbidities had higher rates of becoming screen up-to-date. Assessment by a primary care provider (PCP) was associated with becoming up-to-date with cancer screening (breast relative risk [RR] = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.76, cervical RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06-1.57, colorectal RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.48). Similar results were observed for continuity of care by transplant specialist at a transplant center. In conclusion, cancer screening for most SOTR does not adhere to standard recommendations. Involvement of PCPs in posttransplant care and continuity of care at a transplant center may improve the uptake of screening.

Interventions to encourage uptake of cancer screening for people with severe mental illness.

Adults with severe mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia or other related psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder) can be at greater risk of cancer than those without severe mental illness (SMI). Early detection of cancer through screening is effective in improving patient outcomes including death. However, people with SMI are less likely than others to take up available cancer screening. To determine the effectiveness of interventions targeted at adults with SMI, or their carers or health professionals, and aimed at increasing the uptake of cancer screening tests for which the adults with SMI are eligible. We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Trials Register (October 25, 2012; December 19, 2014; April 07, 2015; July 04, 2016). All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions, targeted towards adults with SMI or their carers or health professionals, to encourage uptake of cancer screening tests for which the adults with SMI were eligible. Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts and assessed these against the inclusion criteria. We did not find any trials that met the inclusion criteria. A comprehensive search showed that currently there is no RCT evidence for any method of encouraging cancer screening uptake in people with SMI. No specific approach can therefore be recommended. High-quality, large-scale RCTs are needed urgently to help address the disparity between people with SMI and others in cancer screening uptake.

‘Too much trouble for what I get out of it’: Acceptability of cancer screening tests among low-income rural men and women in the Deep South

Cancer continues to exact a significant toll worldwide, with the cancer burden expected to grow.1 Encouragingly, routine screening can detect many cancers at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to improve survival. For some cancers, precancerous abnormalities detected in screening can be promptly removed before becoming malignant, thus preventing disease.2 Despite the benefit of screening, the uptake of cancer screening tests is less than optimal. Proposed US Healthy People 2020 objectives include increasing the proportion of adults who participate in cervical, colon and breast cancer screening, and increasing the proportion of men who discuss prostate cancer screening with their healthcare provider.3