12 Oct One Stop Cancer Screening May Increase Participation Rates
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Amanda Bobridge
Dr. Amanda Bobridge
University of South Australia
Adelaide
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Despite cancer screening being demonstrated to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality, current participation in established screening programs is variable. In Australia, the participation rates range from 37% for bowel cancer (FOBT) screening to 57% for cervical cancer screening.
This study aimed to determine the barriers to and enablers for cancer screening and whether the target population for screening would support the concept of combined cancer screening (all screening offered at the same time at the same location).
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Adults from North Western Adelaide (South Australia) were randomly selected to answer a questionnaire on health issues, service utilization and acceptability of the concept of combined screening.
1,562 people participated (mean age 54.1 years), 52% females and 48% males.
Identified enablers for screening included preventing sickness, maintaining health, the program being free and a family history of cancer. Identified barriers included screening being irrelevant to the person, travel and cost restraints. Most importantly, 85% of participants stated that they would support the concept of combined cancer screening.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: That the concept of combined cancer screening is supported by the target population and that this approach has the potential to addresses barriers to screening, streamline the provision of services and possibly improve participation rates and decrease disease burden.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Our research team at the University of South Australia proposes to do this in 2017. The university campus has mammography facilities and a medical clinic onsite. The proposal is for people to attend multiple screening on the same day at the same site and for this approach to be evaluated in terms of acceptability, efficacy and cost effectiveness.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation: 2016 ESMO abstract:
A ‘one stop cancer screening shop’, a way of improving screening participation rates?
A. Bobridge1, K. Price1, A. Taylor2 1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, 2 School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com
[wysija_form id=”5″]
Last Updated on October 12, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD