A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style
Abstract Background There is broad agreement that cancer screening invitees should know the risks and benefits of testing before deciding whether to participate. In organised screening programmes, a primary method of relaying this information is via leaflets provided at the time of invitation. Littl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4224-9 |
| _version_ | 1831683694942748672 |
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| author | Alex Ghanouni Cristina Renzi Jo Waller |
| author_facet | Alex Ghanouni Cristina Renzi Jo Waller |
| author_sort | Alex Ghanouni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is broad agreement that cancer screening invitees should know the risks and benefits of testing before deciding whether to participate. In organised screening programmes, a primary method of relaying this information is via leaflets provided at the time of invitation. Little is known about why individuals do not engage with this information. This study assessed factors associated with reading information leaflets provided by the three cancer screening programmes in England. Methods A cross-sectional survey asked screening-eligible members of the general population in England about the following predictor variables: uptake of previous screening invitations, demographic characteristics, and ‘decision-making styles’ (i.e. the extent to which participants tended to make decisions in a way that was avoidant, rational, intuitive, spontaneous, or dependent). The primary outcome measures were the amount of the leaflet that participants reported having read at their most recent invitation, for any of the three programmes for which they were eligible. Associations between these outcomes and predictor variables were assessed using binary or ordinal logistic regression. Results After exclusions, data from 275, 309, and 556 participants were analysed in relation to the breast, cervical, and bowel screening programmes, respectively. Notable relationships included associations between regularity of screening uptake and reading (more of) the information leaflets for all programmes (e.g. odds ratio: 0.16 for participants who never/very rarely attended breast screening vs. those who always attended previously; p = .009). Higher rational decision-making scores were associated with reading more of the cervical and bowel screening leaflets (OR: 1.13, p < .0005 and OR: 1.11, p = .045, respectively). Information engagement was also higher for White British participants compared with other ethnic groups for breast (OR: 3.28, p = .008) and bowel (OR: 2.58, p = .015) information; an opposite relationship was observed for older participants (OR: 0.96, p = .048; OR: 0.92, p = .029). Conclusions Interventions that increase screening uptake may also increase subsequent engagement with information. Future research could investigate how to improve engagement at initial invitations. There may also be scope to reduce barriers to accessing non-English information and alternative communication strategies may benefit participants who are less inclined to weigh up advantages and disadvantages as part of their decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:42:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da25174153354389bb819566a036655c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:42:14Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-da25174153354389bb819566a036655c2022-12-21T19:49:49ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582017-04-0117111210.1186/s12889-017-4224-9A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making styleAlex Ghanouni0Cristina Renzi1Jo Waller2Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College LondonHealth Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College LondonHealth Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College LondonAbstract Background There is broad agreement that cancer screening invitees should know the risks and benefits of testing before deciding whether to participate. In organised screening programmes, a primary method of relaying this information is via leaflets provided at the time of invitation. Little is known about why individuals do not engage with this information. This study assessed factors associated with reading information leaflets provided by the three cancer screening programmes in England. Methods A cross-sectional survey asked screening-eligible members of the general population in England about the following predictor variables: uptake of previous screening invitations, demographic characteristics, and ‘decision-making styles’ (i.e. the extent to which participants tended to make decisions in a way that was avoidant, rational, intuitive, spontaneous, or dependent). The primary outcome measures were the amount of the leaflet that participants reported having read at their most recent invitation, for any of the three programmes for which they were eligible. Associations between these outcomes and predictor variables were assessed using binary or ordinal logistic regression. Results After exclusions, data from 275, 309, and 556 participants were analysed in relation to the breast, cervical, and bowel screening programmes, respectively. Notable relationships included associations between regularity of screening uptake and reading (more of) the information leaflets for all programmes (e.g. odds ratio: 0.16 for participants who never/very rarely attended breast screening vs. those who always attended previously; p = .009). Higher rational decision-making scores were associated with reading more of the cervical and bowel screening leaflets (OR: 1.13, p < .0005 and OR: 1.11, p = .045, respectively). Information engagement was also higher for White British participants compared with other ethnic groups for breast (OR: 3.28, p = .008) and bowel (OR: 2.58, p = .015) information; an opposite relationship was observed for older participants (OR: 0.96, p = .048; OR: 0.92, p = .029). Conclusions Interventions that increase screening uptake may also increase subsequent engagement with information. Future research could investigate how to improve engagement at initial invitations. There may also be scope to reduce barriers to accessing non-English information and alternative communication strategies may benefit participants who are less inclined to weigh up advantages and disadvantages as part of their decision-making.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4224-9Cancer screeningPopulation screeningPublic educationDecision makingInformed choiceSurvey |
| spellingShingle | Alex Ghanouni Cristina Renzi Jo Waller A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style BMC Public Health Cancer screening Population screening Public education Decision making Informed choice Survey |
| title | A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style |
| title_full | A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style |
| title_short | A cross-sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information: previous screening behaviour, demographics and decision-making style |
| title_sort | cross sectional survey assessing factors associated with reading cancer screening information previous screening behaviour demographics and decision making style |
| topic | Cancer screening Population screening Public education Decision making Informed choice Survey |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4224-9 |
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