Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.

<h4>Background</h4>Emerging sample biomarker tests promise to improve early cancer detection, but also stand to influence socioeconomic inequalities in uptake of asymptomatic screening and symptomatic referrals.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore how and why different attributes of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stefanie Bonfield, Evangelos Katsampouris, Suzanne E Scott, Stephen W Duffy, Fiona M Walter, Samantha L Quaife
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327052
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839619617283112960
author Stefanie Bonfield
Evangelos Katsampouris
Suzanne E Scott
Stephen W Duffy
Fiona M Walter
Samantha L Quaife
author_facet Stefanie Bonfield
Evangelos Katsampouris
Suzanne E Scott
Stephen W Duffy
Fiona M Walter
Samantha L Quaife
author_sort Stefanie Bonfield
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Emerging sample biomarker tests promise to improve early cancer detection, but also stand to influence socioeconomic inequalities in uptake of asymptomatic screening and symptomatic referrals.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore how and why different attributes of early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation across test modalities and contexts among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage.<h4>Method</h4>Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals (aged ≥50 years) at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage explored how and why different attributes of early cancer detection tests affected their experiences and participation across test modalities and contexts. Vignette test scenarios and a think-aloud protocol were used to facilitate interviewees' deliberation between a range of test attributes. Data were analysed using framework analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Select attributes of early cancer detection tests prevented equitable access due to conflicts with lived experiences such as caring responsibilities, reduced mobility, concerns about being stigmatised, and not being physically or psychologically able to undergo procedures. Participants perceived more invasive forms of testing conducted by a doctor in a hospital to indicate greater risk of a cancer diagnosis, and higher perceived risk of cancer was associated with preferences for attributes perceived to deliver an accurate or quick result. Participants varied in what they considered a 'cancer test' and some did not want to test due to the perceived or experienced burden of waiting for or receiving a cancer result.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Emerging sample tests to support early cancer detection could address existing barriers to uptake by offering greater convenience. Inequitable uptake may persist if individuals do not perceive there to be a sufficient reason to test, are not confident to take part or doubt the ability of sample tests to accurately detect signs of cancer.
format Article
id doaj-art-8c31b8c550bd49809ba901b555c9c9b7
institution Matheson Library
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-8c31b8c550bd49809ba901b555c9c9b72025-07-23T05:31:11ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01207e032705210.1371/journal.pone.0327052Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.Stefanie BonfieldEvangelos KatsampourisSuzanne E ScottStephen W DuffyFiona M WalterSamantha L Quaife<h4>Background</h4>Emerging sample biomarker tests promise to improve early cancer detection, but also stand to influence socioeconomic inequalities in uptake of asymptomatic screening and symptomatic referrals.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore how and why different attributes of early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation across test modalities and contexts among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage.<h4>Method</h4>Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals (aged ≥50 years) at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage explored how and why different attributes of early cancer detection tests affected their experiences and participation across test modalities and contexts. Vignette test scenarios and a think-aloud protocol were used to facilitate interviewees' deliberation between a range of test attributes. Data were analysed using framework analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Select attributes of early cancer detection tests prevented equitable access due to conflicts with lived experiences such as caring responsibilities, reduced mobility, concerns about being stigmatised, and not being physically or psychologically able to undergo procedures. Participants perceived more invasive forms of testing conducted by a doctor in a hospital to indicate greater risk of a cancer diagnosis, and higher perceived risk of cancer was associated with preferences for attributes perceived to deliver an accurate or quick result. Participants varied in what they considered a 'cancer test' and some did not want to test due to the perceived or experienced burden of waiting for or receiving a cancer result.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Emerging sample tests to support early cancer detection could address existing barriers to uptake by offering greater convenience. Inequitable uptake may persist if individuals do not perceive there to be a sufficient reason to test, are not confident to take part or doubt the ability of sample tests to accurately detect signs of cancer.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327052
spellingShingle Stefanie Bonfield
Evangelos Katsampouris
Suzanne E Scott
Stephen W Duffy
Fiona M Walter
Samantha L Quaife
Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.
PLoS ONE
title Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.
title_full Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.
title_fullStr Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.
title_full_unstemmed Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.
title_short Exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage: A qualitative interview study.
title_sort exploring how and why attributes of existing and emerging early cancer detection tests influence experiences and participation among individuals at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage a qualitative interview study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327052
work_keys_str_mv AT stefaniebonfield exploringhowandwhyattributesofexistingandemergingearlycancerdetectiontestsinfluenceexperiencesandparticipationamongindividualsatriskofsocioeconomicdisadvantageaqualitativeinterviewstudy
AT evangeloskatsampouris exploringhowandwhyattributesofexistingandemergingearlycancerdetectiontestsinfluenceexperiencesandparticipationamongindividualsatriskofsocioeconomicdisadvantageaqualitativeinterviewstudy
AT suzanneescott exploringhowandwhyattributesofexistingandemergingearlycancerdetectiontestsinfluenceexperiencesandparticipationamongindividualsatriskofsocioeconomicdisadvantageaqualitativeinterviewstudy
AT stephenwduffy exploringhowandwhyattributesofexistingandemergingearlycancerdetectiontestsinfluenceexperiencesandparticipationamongindividualsatriskofsocioeconomicdisadvantageaqualitativeinterviewstudy
AT fionamwalter exploringhowandwhyattributesofexistingandemergingearlycancerdetectiontestsinfluenceexperiencesandparticipationamongindividualsatriskofsocioeconomicdisadvantageaqualitativeinterviewstudy
AT samanthalquaife exploringhowandwhyattributesofexistingandemergingearlycancerdetectiontestsinfluenceexperiencesandparticipationamongindividualsatriskofsocioeconomicdisadvantageaqualitativeinterviewstudy