Dawson Greer, Crane Melanie, Lyons Claudine, Burnham Anna, Bowman Tara, Travaglia Joanne
NSW Public Health Training Program, NSW Ministry of Health, Level 7, 73 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia.
Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, The Charles Perkins Centre, Level 6, The Hub, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2016 Apr;27(1):48-53. doi: 10.1071/HE15026.
Issue addressed Bowel cancer is Australia's second biggest cancer killer. Yet, despite the existence of a free national bowel-screening program, participation in this program remains low. The aim of the present study was to understand the current factors contributing to this trend to help inform future strategies to increase participation. Methods Eight focus groups (n=61 in total) were conducted with participants aged 45 years and over from metropolitan and regional New South Wales (NSW). Discussions canvassed awareness, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding bowel cancer and screening, and explored how these factors influenced decisions to screen. Results The low public profile of bowel cancer compared with other cancers, together with poor knowledge of its prevalence and treatability, has contributed to a low perception of risk in the community. Minimal understanding of the often-asymptomatic presentation of bowel cancer and the role of screening in prevention has appeared to compromise the perceived value of screening. In addition, confusion regarding when, and how often, individuals should screen was apparent. Knowledge of bowel cancer and screening, and its role in motivating intention to screen, emerged as a dominant theme in the data. Conclusions The present study highlights specific knowledge gaps and confusion with regard to bowel cancer and screening. Addressing these gaps through the provision of clear, coordinated information may shift attitudes to screening and increase participation. So what? Given the Australian Government's recent commitment to expand the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, insight into what is driving current perceptions, attitudes and subsequent participation in bowel cancer screening is crucial to the development and targeting of new approaches and initiatives.
解决的问题 肠癌是澳大利亚第二大致命癌症。然而，尽管存在免费的全国肠癌筛查项目，但该项目的参与率仍然很低。本研究的目的是了解导致这一趋势的当前因素，以帮助为未来提高参与率的策略提供信息。方法 对来自新南威尔士州（NSW）大都市和地区的45岁及以上参与者进行了8个焦点小组讨论（总共61人）。讨论涉及对肠癌和筛查的认识、知识、态度和信念，并探讨了这些因素如何影响筛查决策。结果 与其他癌症相比，肠癌的公众关注度较低，加上对其患病率和可治疗性的了解不足，导致社区对风险的认知较低。对肠癌通常无症状表现以及筛查在预防中的作用了解甚少，似乎影响了对筛查价值的认知。此外，对于个人何时以及多久进行一次筛查存在明显的困惑。关于肠癌和筛查的知识及其在激发筛查意愿方面的作用，成为数据中的一个主要主题。结论 本研究突出了在肠癌和筛查方面存在的特定知识差距和困惑。通过提供清晰、协调的信息来填补这些差距，可能会改变对筛查的态度并提高参与率。那又如何？鉴于澳大利亚政府最近承诺扩大国家肠癌筛查项目，深入了解当前影响对肠癌筛查的认知、态度以及后续参与的因素，对于制定和瞄准新的方法与举措至关重要。
