Public understanding of the purpose of cancer screening: A population-based survey.

Chorley, AJ and Hirst, Y and Vrinten, C and von, Wagner C and Wardle, J and Waller, J (2017) Public understanding of the purpose of cancer screening: A population-based survey. Journal of medical screening, 25 (2). pp. 64-69. ISSN 1475-5793

Abstract

Objectives:In examining informed choice in cancer screening, we investigated public awareness that some screening pro-grammes aim to prevent cancer, while others seek to detect cancer at an early stage.Methods:A population-based survey of adults aged 50–70 in England (n¼1433), including data on demographic characteristicsand screening experience. Participants were asked to select the main purpose of cervical, breast, and colorectal cancerscreening (both faecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy).Results:Across all four screening programmes, most people thought the main aim was to catch cancer early (71–78%). Only 18and 14% knew that cervical screening and flexible sigmoidoscopy, respectively, are primarily preventive. Knowledge of thepreventive aspect of these two programmes was low across the board, with few demographic patterns. By contrast, 78 and73% of the sample were aware that breast screening and the faecal occult blood test, respectively, predominantly aim to detectcancer early. For these programmes, accurate knowledge was socially graded, lower in ethnic minority groups, and positivelyassociated with previous participation in the programmes.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that although awareness of the purpose of early detection screening is high, awareness thatscreening can prevent cancer is low across all demographic groups. Understanding the purpose of screening is a key aspect ofinformed choice but despite current communication strategies highlighting these differences, people do not seem to have anuanced understanding of these differing aims. Our findings may be indicative of a broader public scepticism about the pre-ventability of cancer.