Early diagnosis of lung cancer: evaluation of a community-based social marketing intervention

Abstract

Background Poor UK lung cancer survival rates may, in part, be due to late diagnosis. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a mixedmethod community-based social marketing intervention on lung cancer diagnoses. Methods A public awareness campaign in conjunction with brief intervention training in general practices was piloted in six localities with a high lung cancer incidence. End points were self-reported awareness of lung cancer symptoms; intention to seek healthcare; chest x-ray referral rates in primary care; secular trends in the incidence of lung cancer and stage at diagnosis, compared before and after the intervention. Results 21% (128/600) (95% CI 18% to 25%) of the targeted population recalled something about the campaign. Compared with a responder in the control area, the odds of a responder in the intervention area saying that they would visit their general practitioner and request a chest x-ray for a cough was 1.97 times (95% CI 1.18 to 3.31, p¼0.01). Primary care chest x-ray referral rates increased by 20% in the targeted practices in the year following the intervention compared with a 2% fall in the control practices. The difference was highly significant, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.22 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.33, p¼0.001). There was a 27% increase in lung cancer diagnoses in the intervention area compared with a fall in the control area. The incidence rate ratio was 1.42 (95% CI 0.83 to 2.44 p¼0.199). Conclusion This is encouraging early evidence that an awareness and early recognition initiative may facilitate lung cancer diagnosis.

An environmental social marketing intervention among employees: assessing attitude and behaviour change

“…One area in which a significant amount of research has been collated supporting the effects of social marketing interventions is the area of health and related behaviours. Studies have reported successful promotion and uptake of insecticidetreated nets for malaria prevention (Agha et al, 2007), early diagnosis of lung cancer (Athey et al, 2012), increased use of condoms and safe sex (Kegeles et al, 1996;Cohen et al, 1999) and prevention of obesity in school children (Foster et al, 2008), among other behaviours.…”

Low-Dose Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer

“…General practitioners also find identifying lung cancer cases challenging, and patients will often attend several times before the diagnosis is considered and a chest radiograph performed [37]. An early study revealed that educating the public and primary healthcare teams on the importance of cough as a lung cancer symptom resulted in a large increase in chest radiographs being performed and suggested earlier diagnosis [38]. This led on to the national "Be Clear on Cancer" campaign in the UK, the results of which were positive, leading to state funding of repeat programmes.…”

Diosgenin Inhibits hTERT Gene Expression in the A549 Lung Cancer Cell Line

“…Lung cancer is the most widespread type Figure 1. Structure of Diosgenin of cancer and is also one of the major causes of death in the world (Athey et al, 2012). Lung cancer between many types of cancer such as breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer and stomach cancer, is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.…”