A rapid review of barriers and facilitators to cancer screening uptake in under-served populations

Background and Context

Screening programmes for bowel, breast and cervical cancer are provided by the NHS. These screening programmes were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which means a large amount of people had a delay in their appointments. 

Aims

This review looked at what reasons may or may not stop people, particularly those from underserved groups (for example more deprived or ethnic minority populations), from attending screening appointments and if there was any difference in the reasons given compared to before the pandemic.

Strategy

The researchers looked at studies from the UK as well as from countries who run similar screening programmes to the UK, including Australia and the Netherlands. They looked for studies from during and before the pandemic.

Outcomes

They found ten relevant studies. Five studies took place during and five before the pandemic. None of the studies looked at underserved populations on their own.

Reasons people may not attend screening appointments included: fear; embarrassment; stigma; lack of education and support; language and cultural barriers and appointment times. Reasons people may attend screening appointments included: hearing people’s stories of screening and cancer; trust and language support.

Impact

The studies did not show any difference from before or during the pandemic, in the reasons why underserved populations may or may not attend screening appointments.  It is not clear if this is because there is no difference in people’s reasons, or just because there is not enough research in this area.

Read the full report

Summary author: Alexandra Strong