Title
ABACus study: Development and pilot evaluation of the Tenovus health check: A targeted cancer awareness intervention for people from deprived communities
Principal / Lead Investigator
- Prof Kate Brain, Cardiff University
Research team
- Dr Ben Carter, Cardiff University
- Prof Adrian Edwards, Cardiff University
- Prof Shantini Paranjothy, Cardiff University
- Prof Michael Robling, Cardiff University
- Prof Fiona Wood, Cardiff University
- Dr Ian Lewis, Tenovus
- Miss Julia Townson, Cardiff University
- Dr Stephanie Smits, Cardiff University
Type of study
Development and evaluation of health intervention
Summary
A health check which aims to promote cancer awareness and help-seeking has been created by the cancer charity Tenovus. It is a touchscreen questionnaire that was designed for use in disadvantaged Welsh communities. It has already been used by many people, but has not yet been evaluated. With the help of people from Welsh communities, this research will develop and evaluate the health check in two phases.
In Phase 1, focus groups and interviews were held with members of the public, community leaders and health professionals. Format, strengths, weaknesses and how best to deliver the health check will be discussed. Any changes to improve the health check were then be made.
In Phase 2, the modified health check was evaluated in a study involving 100 people completing the health check in different community settings, as recommended by the Phase 1 work. Questions about awareness of cancer and behaviour were asked before people completed the health check, and again one month later. This was to see if using the health check has changed what people know and do about possible cancer symptoms.
A researcher also observed some people using the health check in order to understand how it is used. We then interviewed people who have used the health check to see if any final changes need to be made before the health check could be used more widely by people living in disadvantaged Welsh communities.
Who is the study sponsor?
Cardiff University
UKCRN portfolio number
Phase One: 16913
Phase Two: 19567
Funder
National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI)
Total grant value
£135,016
Start date
01/10/2014
End date
30/09/2016
How could this research potentially benefit patients?
Should the intervention demonstrate acceptability and the potential to improve outcomes relating to symptom awareness and early presentation, this research will form the basis for a future trial of effectiveness, with the potential to benefit disadvantaged communities in and beyond Wales.
Further information
- Project shortlisted for South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards 2017
- Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) Phase 3: randomised controlled trial of the health check intervention to improve cancer symptom awareness and help seeking among people living in socioeconomically deprived communities.
Outputs generated
- Smits S, McCutchan G, Wood F, Edwards A, Lewis I, Robling M, Paranjothy S, Carter B, Townson J, Brain K. Development of a behaviour change intervention to encourage timely cancer symptom presentation among people living in deprived communities using the Behaviour Change Wheel. Ann Behav Med (2016) doi:10.1007/s12160-016-9849-x
- Poster presentation: 'Development and pilot evaluation of a targeted cancer awareness intervention for adults living in socioeconomically deprived communities' at Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis Research Conference, London, 23-24 February 2017.
- Conference abstract: Can a targeted intervention improve cancer symptom awareness and help-seeking among adults living in socioeconomically deprived communities? The Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) randomised controlled trial. SAPC, 2020.
- Conference abstract: How can the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) randomised controlled trial process evaluation help us to understand trial outcomes and associated implications? And, what can it teach us about community interventions and trials in the future? SAPC, 2020.