Improving uptake of bowel cancer screening in the South Asian community
Lead researcher: Professor Lesley Smith
Location: University of Hull
Grant award: £24,681
Professor Lesley Smith from the University of Hull, along with colleagues at Oxford Brookes University and Liverpool John Moores, investigated reasons why bowel cancer screening uptake is low among the South Asian community.
The challenge
Bowel cancer screening is one of the best ways to diagnose bowel cancer at the earliest stage, when treatment has the best chance of success. Adults from the South Asian community in the UK are typically less likely to take part in screening — screening uptake in this group is around half the rate of the general population. Although some research has been done in this area, we still don’t really know why this group in particular are less likely to take part.
The science behind the project
The research team carried out interviews with 25 South Asian men and women aged 50-74 in Oxfordshire, with a range of ethnicities, faiths, first languages and previous participation in bowel cancer screening. For recruitment, the researchers attended religious events (such as an Eid festival) and local community groups, as well as identifying key community figures.
The interviews were to better understand people’s decision making around bowel cancer screening, including any barriers they face to do their at-home test.
Results
The key barriers identified were:
- Lack of knowledge about bowel cancer and screening
- Lack of language, literacy and physical skills to carry out the at-home test
- Confidence to carry it out correctly
- Appropriate space and time to carry out the at-home test
- Putting off undertaking the test
- Risk perception and fear of cancer
What difference will this project make?
Screening is one of the best ways to diagnose bowel cancer at the earliest stage, when treatment has the best chance of success. Increasing the number of people who take part therefore means that lives could be saved.
These results will help to develop more targeted interventions for the South Asian community to increase participation in screening, such as more education about bowel cancer and how to complete the at-home test.
Following this project, Professor Smith is working with Bradford & Airedale Bowel Cancer Screening Programme to improve bowel cancer screening uptake in Bradford, with funding from West Yorkshire Cancer Alliance.
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