ABACUS - colorectal cancer screening uptake: Version 1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ABACUS - psychosocial determinants of colorectal cancer screening uptake
IRAS ID
109144
Contact name
Christian von Wagner
Contact email
Research summary
In England, the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) provides population-based screening for all adults aged 60-69 (currently being extended to 74). The proposed project addresses questions that have emerged since the BCSP was introduced in 2006. The main goals are to understand why uptake rates (54%) fail to reach the levels observed for the breast (70%) and cervical (80%) screening programmes and why there are such striking socioeconomic inequalities in uptake. We will also investigate attrition and re-engagement between first and subsequent rounds of screening. The project will build on previous work on psychosocial predictors of participation in the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme by the Cancer Screening and Communication group led by Professor Jane Wardle at the Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London.
Psychological factors have been consistently associated with participation, and recent work has added broader environmental factors such as social support and life circumstances to the list. One major limitation of the psychological research is that some of the evidence comes from studies that rely on self-report measures of intentions to be screened and past attendance rather than objective records of past and future attendance. This project aims to address this limitation by asking survey respondents for consent to monitor their screening participation prospectively and verify their previous participation. Survey data will be collected through the Attitudes, Behaviour and Cancer-UK Survey (ABACUS) survey. The ABACUS is an annual population-representative, cross-sectional survey on cancer screening and other early-detection behaviours which will run from 2013-2016. The first wave is planned for autumn 2013 and will focus on psychosocial and sociodemographic factors influencing colorectal cancer screening participation. The aim is to follow up participation in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) in the subsequent invitation round and verify participation in previous rounds for consenting respondents from the first wave.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0707
Date of REC Opinion
4 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion