scholarly journals The impact of national cancer awareness campaigns for bowel and lung cancer symptoms on sociodemographic inequalities in immediate key symptom awareness and GP attendances

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (S1) ◽  
pp. S14-S21 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Moffat ◽  
A Bentley ◽  
L Ironmonger ◽  
A Boughey ◽  
G Radford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Target Audience ◽  
Warning Sign ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Symptom Awareness ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: National campaigns focusing on key symptoms of bowel and lung cancer ran in England in 2012, targeting men and women over the age of 50 years, from lower socioeconomic groups. Methods: Data from awareness surveys undertaken with samples of the target audience (n=1245/1140 pre-/post-bowel campaign and n=1412/1246 pre-/post-lung campaign) and Read-code data extracted from a selection general practitioner (GP) practices (n=355 for bowel and n=486 for lung) were analysed by population subgroups. Results: Unprompted symptom awareness: There were no significant differences in the magnitude of shift in ABC1 vs C2DE groups for either campaign. For the bowel campaign, there was a significantly greater increase in awareness of blood in stools in the age group 75+ years compared with the 55–74 age group, and of looser stools in men compared with women. Prompted symptom awareness: Endorsement of ‘blood in poo’ remained stable, overall and across different population subgroups. Men showed a significantly greater increase in endorsement of ‘looser poo’ as a definite warning sign of bowel cancer than women. There were no significant differences across subgroups in endorsement of a 3-week cough as a definite warning sign of lung cancer. GP attendances: Overall, there were significant increases in attendances for symptoms directly linked to the campaigns, with the largest percentage increase seen in the 50–59 age group. For the bowel campaign, the increase was significantly greater for men and for practices in the most-deprived quintile, whereas for lung the increase was significantly greater for practices in the least-deprived quintile. Conclusions: The national bowel and lung campaigns reached their target audience and have also influenced younger and more affluent groups. Differences in impact within the target audience were also seen. There would seem to be no unduly concerning widening in inequalities, but further analyses of the equality of impact across population subgroups is warranted.

scholarly journals Evaluating the impact of ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ awareness campaigns on GP attendances

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp19X703517
Author(s):  
Christopher Lawrence ◽  
Carolynn Gildea ◽  
Ann Watters ◽  
Isobel Tudge
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Primary Care Activity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Oesophagogastric Cancer

BackgroundThe ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ awareness campaigns aim to raise awareness of cancer symptoms and encourage people with these symptoms to ‘tell their doctor’. GP attendances are therefore a key metric for evaluating the impact of a campaign. We considered the impact on GP attendances of several campaigns since 2013, including the 2015 national oesophagogastric cancer campaign, the 2016 national respiratory symptoms campaign and campaigns for lung cancer, ‘blood in pee’, and breast cancer in women aged >70 years.AimTo consider the impact on GP attendances of several campaigns since 2013, including the 2015 national oesophagogastric cancer campaign, the 2016 national respiratory symptoms campaign and others.MethodData on the weekly numbers of GP attendances and practices were extracted from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database. For patients reporting campaign symptoms or a control symptom (back pain), the average number of GP attendances per practice per week was calculated. Analysis considered the trend in GP attendances, calculated the change in attendances for the campaign period compared to the same period in an earlier year, and assessed this change using a χ2 test.ResultsThe 2015 oesophagogastric cancer campaign, resulted in a statistically significant 29% increase (P<0.001) in the number of attendances for symptoms of dyspepsia and dysphagia, compared with the same period in 2013. Conversely, there was no significant change in attendances for back pain. Results for other campaigns will be presented.ConclusionThe THIN database has provided primary care data which can be used to assess the impact of awareness campaigns on primary care activity. Results demonstrate increases in GP attendances following some of the campaigns, suggesting that some patients responded to the campaigns’ call to action.

scholarly journals Community cancer awareness programs: symptom awareness alone doesn’t suffice

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 855
Author(s):  
Abdulkhader Shehna ◽  
Firosh Khan ◽  
Ajith Kumar ◽  
Jayaraman Balan ◽  
Sona Ram
Keyword(s):  
Developing Economies ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Late Presentation ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cost Of Treatment ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Symptom Awareness ◽  
Awareness Programs

Background: Although cancer is a global public health problem, maximum impact is on developing economies. In India, socio-cultural factors also operate to add the burden. Aim of the study was to delineate factors causing late presentation of cancers to the point of care.Methods: We gave cancer awareness classes to a village community, preceded by a campaign to attend the classes with the help of a local trustee organisation and primary health center. Data was collected from the attendees using a structured questionnaire prepared to dissect out the awareness about cancer symptoms and concerns about treatment.Results: Only 1.8% of the total population of the area under study attended the classes. Out of the 411 attendees, 323 (78.6%) responded to the questionnaire and of them, 294 (91%) identified the site wise symptoms of cancer clearly and 40 (12.4%) detected their own symptoms warranting cancer screening. Commonest concern was the cost of treatment (40.9%). There were people thinking that cancer is not a life-style disease (3.1%), it is genetic (7.7%), it may be due to fate alone (6.2%), it is contagious (5%), and it cannot be cured (3.7%).Conclusions: Despite high health status indices, literacy rate and high knowledge about cancer symptoms, there are still a lot of superstitions about cancer in Kerala. The most common reason preventing people from approaching health care system with early symptoms of cancer is the fear of cost of treatment. Apart from teaching symptoms of cancer, cancer awareness programs should include familiarisation of various financial aids available for cancer treatment.

scholarly journals ‘Blood in pee’ campaign: Increased demand on secondary care with no change in cancers diagnosed

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
Kunjan Patel ◽  
Susan Jane Hall ◽  
Kamath Shraddha ◽  
Richard Stanford ◽  
Simon Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Economic Background ◽  
Kolmogorov Smirnov ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Index Of Multiple Deprivation ◽  
Student’S T Test

Objective: As part of the national Be Clear on Cancer campaign, the ‘blood in pee’ campaign was launched in 2013. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the campaign on 2-week wait (2WW) referrals and the resulting diagnoses of malignancy at a single trust, and secondly, to evaluate the socio-economic background of patients referred. Patients and methods: Suspected cancer 2WW patients in the 3 months pre- and post-campaign were included. Demographics, investigations and diagnoses were recorded. A Kolmogorov–Smirnov test demonstrated a normal distribution. The data were treated as parametric and analysed with the unpaired Student’s t-test. Results: Referrals for visible haematuria significantly increased by 52% from 135 pre-campaign to 205 post-campaign ( p = 0.03). There was a fall in the proportion of patients diagnosed with malignancy from 20.27% pre-campaign to 15.36% post-campaign. The mean index of multiple deprivation score of referrals did not change: p = 0.43. Conclusion: This campaign has increased referrals without increasing the proportion of malignancies diagnosed, placing large demand on services without benefit or extra funding. Nor has the campaign effectively reached deprived socio-economic groups. There is little evidence as to the efficacy of untargeted cancer awareness campaigns and further work is needed to improve their pick-up of malignancies. Level of evidence: 2C

scholarly journals Evaluation of a national lung cancer symptom awareness campaign in Wales

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace McCutchan ◽  
Stephanie Smits ◽  
Lucy Ironmonger ◽  
Ciarán Slyne ◽  
Amanda Boughey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Symptom Awareness ◽  
Gp Visits ◽  
Symptom Recall ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Wales. We conducted a before- and after- study to evaluate the impact of a four-week mass-media campaign on awareness, presentation behaviour and lung cancer outcomes. Methods Population-representative samples were surveyed for cough symptom recall/recognition and worry about wasting doctors’ time pre-campaign (June 2016; n = 1001) and post-campaign (September 2016; n = 1013). GP cough symptom visits, urgent suspected cancer (USC) referrals, GP-ordered radiology, new lung cancer diagnoses and stage at diagnosis were compared using routine data during the campaign (July–August 2016) and corresponding control (July–August 2015) periods. Results Increased cough symptom recall (p < 0.001), recognition (p < 0.001) and decreased worry (p < 0.001) were observed. GP visits for cough increased by 29% in the target 50+ age-group during the campaign (p < 0.001) and GP-ordered chest X-rays increased by 23% (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant change in USC referrals (p = 0.82), new (p = 0.70) or early stage (p = 0.27) diagnoses, or in routes to diagnosis. Conclusions Symptom awareness, presentation and GP-ordered chest X-rays increased during the campaign but did not translate into increased USC referrals or clinical outcomes changes. Short campaign duration and follow-up, and the small number of new lung cancer cases observed may have hampered detection effects.

scholarly journals Impact of a mass media campaign on breast cancer symptoms awareness and screening uptake in Malaysia: findings from a quasi-experimental study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036503
Author(s):  
Désirée Schliemann ◽  
Mila Nu Nu Htay ◽  
Maznah Dahlui ◽  
Darishiani Paramasivam ◽  
Christopher R Cardwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Mass Media Campaign ◽  
Media Campaign ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Screening Uptake ◽  
Culturally Adapted ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a mass media campaign in terms of improving breast cancer (BC) symptoms awareness and screening uptake.DesignBefore—and after—study with comparator groups.SettingSelangor State, Malaysia.ParticipantsMalaysian women aged >40 years (n=676) from randomly selected households.InterventionA culturally adapted mass media campaign (TV, radio, print media and social media).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary endpoint was BC symptoms awareness, which was assessed with the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure precampaign and postcampaign. Secondary outcomes included campaign reach, self-efficacy to notice BC symptoms and clinical outcomes. Clinical breast examination and mammogram screening data were collected from hospitals and clinics.ResultsMost participants recognised at least one of the campaign materials (65.2%). The odds of seeing the campaign were lowest for Chinese women (adjusted OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.40) compared with Malays and for women aged >70 years (adjusted OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.94) compared with younger women. Participants who recognised the campaign were significantly more likely to have improved awareness postcampaign compared with non-recognisers particularly for key symptoms such as ‘a lump or thickening in your breast’ (88.9% vs 62.1%) and ‘discharge or bleeding from nipple’ (79.7% vs 55.3%). Improvement in symptoms awareness scores was not associated with sociodemographic variables.ConclusionsImplementation in Malaysia of an evidence-based mass media campaign from the UK that was culturally adapted appeared to lead to improved awareness about some BC symptoms, though various modes of media communication and perhaps other health education approaches may be required to extend the reach to diverse, multiethnic populations and all age groups.

scholarly journals Promoting lung cancer awareness, help-seeking and early detection: a systematic review of interventions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad M Saab ◽  
Serena FitzGerald ◽  
Brendan Noonan ◽  
Caroline Kilty ◽  
Abigail Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Early Presentation ◽  
Symptom Awareness

Summary Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death. Barriers to the early presentation for LC include lack of symptom awareness, symptom misappraisal, poor relationship with doctors and lack of access to healthcare services. Addressing such barriers can help detect LC early. This systematic review describes the effect of recent interventions to improve LC awareness, help-seeking and early detection. This review was guided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, APA PsycARTICLES, APA PsycInfo and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection were searched. Sixteen studies were included. Knowledge of LC was successfully promoted in most studies using educational sessions and campaigns. LC screening uptake varied with most studies successfully reducing decision conflicts using decision aids. Large campaigns, including UK-based campaign ‘Be Clear on Cancer’, were instrumental in enhancing LC awareness, promoting help-seeking and yielding an increase in chest X-rays and a decrease in the number of individuals diagnosed with advanced LC. Multimodal public health interventions, such as educational campaigns are best suited to raise awareness, reduce barriers to help-seeking and help detect LC early. Future interventions ought to incorporate targeted information using educational resources, face-to-face counselling and video- and web-based decision aids.

scholarly journals Strengthening the Evidence Base of Cancer Symptom Awareness Campaigns: A Conceptual Framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 36s-36s
Author(s):  
M.M. Koo ◽  
G.P. Rubin ◽  
G. Lyratzopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Logic Model ◽  
Cancer Site ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Symptom Awareness ◽  
Diagnosis Of Cancer

Background: Cancer control strategies in different countries increasingly encompass public health education campaigns that aim to promote earlier presentation and diagnosis of cancer by raising awareness of possible cancer symptoms. However, the theoretical understanding that underpins these complex early diagnosis interventions remains underdeveloped. Aim: To propose a theoretical framework to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of cancer symptom awareness campaigns and motivate further relevant research. Methods: Informed by Wilson and Junger's principles of early disease detection for screening (1968) and existing conceptual frameworks for early diagnosis of cancer, we considered the logic model underlying cancer symptom awareness campaigns and relevant emerging evidence from disciplines including health psychology, cancer epidemiology, and health services research. Real-world examples across high-/low-income settings were used where possible to illustrate discussions of implications for practice. Results: We identified four major factors that contribute to the logic model of cancer symptom awareness campaigns beyond contextual and practical factors. Disease burden statistics (cancer site-specific incidence, survival, mortality) could be used to gauge relative need for raising awareness. This should be triangulated with symptom epidemiology (including existing levels of awareness, symptom prevalence, the associated predictive value for cancer, symptom-specific diagnostic timeliness, and whether the symptom is a sign of early stage disease) to motivate selection of individual symptoms in a campaign. Psychosocial factors (such as cancer fatalism or fear and health literacy) and their interaction with symptom awareness should also be considered as they affect symptom appraisal. Further, an understanding and awareness of system factors (availability and access to healthcare, investigation processes, and clinical capacity) will be important for assessing campaign feasibility and knock-on effects in the health system. Based on the above, campaigns should ideally target symptoms that are strongly predictive of early stage (treatable) cancer for which there is low awareness in the target population, and are associated with long intervals to help-seeking. Campaign impact should be amplified by targeting psychosocial barriers to prompt presentation. Additionally, campaigns should be accompanied by downstream capacity planning for potential cancer investigation and subsequent treatment. Conclusion: The proposed framework considers the logic model of cancer symptom awareness campaigns, acknowledging key factors that should be taken into account beyond contextual factors. This could help identify evidential gaps in early diagnosis research, and improve campaign design and evaluation.

scholarly journals Lung cancer stage-shift following a symptom awareness campaign

Thorax ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 1128-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martyn P T Kennedy ◽  
Leanne Cheyne ◽  
Michael Darby ◽  
Paul Plant ◽  
Richard Milton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Cancer Stage ◽  
Cancer Outcomes ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Symptom Awareness ◽  
Chest X Ray

BackgroundLung cancer outcomes in the UK are worse than in many other developed nations. Symptom awareness campaigns aim to diagnose patients at an earlier stage to improve cancer outcomes.MethodsAn early diagnosis campaign for lung cancer commenced in Leeds, UK in 2011 comprising public and primary-care facing components. Rates of community referral for chest X-ray and lung cancer stage (TNM seventh edition) at presentation were collected from 2008 to 2015. Linear trends were assessed by χ2 test for trend in proportions. Headline figures are presented for the 3 years pre-campaign (2008–2010) and the three most recent years for which data are available during the campaign (2013–2015).FindingsCommunity-ordered chest X-ray rates per year increased from 18 909 in 2008–2010 to 34 194 in 2013–2015 (80.8% increase). A significant stage shift towards earlier stage lung cancer was seen (χ2(1)=32.2, p<0.0001). There was an 8.8 percentage point increase in the proportion of patients diagnosed with stage I/II lung cancer (26.5% pre-campaign vs 35.3% during campaign) and a 9.3% reduction in the absolute number of patients diagnosed with stage III/IV disease (1254 pre-campaign vs 1137 during campaign).InterpretationThis is the largest described lung cancer stage-shift in association with a symptom awareness campaign. A causal link between the campaign and stage-shift cannot be proven but appears plausible. Limitations of the analysis include a lack of contemporary control population.

Weather variability and paediatric infectious gastroenteritis

2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (9) ◽  
pp. 1369-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. ONOZUKA ◽  
M. HASHIZUME
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Weather Variability ◽  
Progressive Reduction ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Infectious Gastroenteritis ◽  
Time Series Analyses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYInvestigations of the relationship between weather variability and infectious gastroenteritis (IG) are becoming increasingly important in light of international interest in the potential health effects of climate change. However, few studies have examined the impact on children, despite the fact that children are considered particularly vulnerable to climate change. We acquired data about cases of IG in children aged <15 years and about weather variability in Fukuoka, Japan from 2000 to 2008 and used time-series analyses to assess how weather variability affected IG cases, adjusting for confounding factors. The temperature–IG relationship had an inverted V shape, with fewer cases at temperatures lower and higher than ~13°C. Every 1°C increase in temperature below the threshold (13°C) was associated with a 23·2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 16·6–30·2] increase, while every 1°C increase in temperature above the threshold (13°C) was associated with an 11·8% (95% CI 6·6–17·3) decrease in incidence. The increase in cases per 1% drop in relative humidity was 3·9% (95% CI 2·8–5·0). The percentage increase of IG cases was greatest in the 0–4 years age group and tended to decrease with increasing age. We found a progressive reduction in weather-related IG cases in children aged >4 years. Our results suggest that public health interventions aimed at controlling weather-related IG may be most effective when focused on young children.

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