A community breast screening intervention for underserved groups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A community champion led breast cancer screening intervention for underserved groups
IRAS ID
348207
Contact name
Gaby Judah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN91970791
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and is one of the leading causes of death in women under 50 in the UK. The NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBSP) invites women aged 50 to 70 years old every three years to a mammogram (breast cancer screening). By enabling earlier detection, it is estimated that the NHSBSP saves 1,300 lives per year. However, BCS attendance is falling, and is particularly low in London (56% in 2023). There are also inequalities in uptake: those from deprived areas or from ethnic minority groups are less likely to attend.
The study aims to see whether the uptake of breast screening by underserved groups in Hounslow can be increased through the involvement of women who are known and respected within their communities. These ‘community champions’, will be trained and given materials to use when speaking to women from low uptake groups. Co-designed materials include a leaflet, an animated video (in different languages), bus stop adverts and posters (displayed in backs of toilet doors in community and religious spaces).
This study will test whether these materials, delivered by community champions in Hounslow, increases breast cancer screening uptake.
Hounslow was chosen due to low screening uptake (52.9%) and high levels of minority ethnicity and low-income households. We will compare attendance in Hounslow to women from other boroughs with similar levels of screening in the past and similar population characteristics. We will also estimate potential cost savings of the intervention to the NHS. We will use surveys to measure how many people saw the materials, where they saw it and whether they think they would go to breast screening when invited because of it. We will test these effects over a six-month campaign period and a follow-up period of six months.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NE/0199
Date of REC Opinion
27 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion