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
Research team
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
Outputs generated