Improving cancer preventive behaviors: a randomized trial of tailored lifestyle feedback in colorectal cancer screening

Knudsen, M. D., Hjartåker, A., Robb, K. A. , de Lange, T., Hoff, G. and Berstad, P. (2018) Improving cancer preventive behaviors: a randomized trial of tailored lifestyle feedback in colorectal cancer screening. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 27(12), pp. 1442-1449. (doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-18-0268) (PMID:30389802)

Abstract

Background: Cancer screening provides an opportunity to increase awareness of cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors such as nonsmoking, physical activity, low alcohol consumption, and a healthy diet. We tested the effect of standardized, individually tailored written feedback (TF), and a standard leaflet (SL) on 1-year lifestyle behaviors in a colorectal cancer screening setting. Methods: A total of 3,642 men and women aged 50–74 years invited to sigmoidoscopy screening were randomly assigned to: (i) TF; (ii) SL for cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors; or (iii) control. Participants were mailed two self-reported lifestyle questionnaires (LSQ) 1 year apart. The TF intervention was based on the prescreening LSQ answers. We analyzed differences [with 95% confidence intervals (CI)] by comparing prescreening to 1-year follow-up of single cancer-preventive factors and the number of cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors (range 0–4) between the groups by multivariable logistic regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: A total of 1,054 screening participants without neoplastic findings (29% of those invited to screening) were included in this study. Participants in the TF group increased their number of cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors significantly compared with those in the control group by 0.11 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.19). Overweight/obese individuals in the TF group had a −0.84 kg (95% CI, −1.47 to −0.22) larger reduction in body weight compared with the control group. Conclusions: TF at sigmoidoscopy screening led to small improvements in cancer-preventive behaviors. Impact: Colorectal cancer screening is a suitable setting for increasing awareness of cancer-preventive behavior.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services funded this study (project number: 2014105).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Robb, Professor Katie
• Authors: Knudsen, M. D., Hjartåker, A., Robb, K. A., de Lange, T., Hoff, G., and Berstad, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention
• Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research
• ISSN: 1055-9965
• ISSN (Online): 1538-7755
• Published Online: 02 November 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 American Association for Cancer Research
• First Published: First published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 27(12): 1442-1449
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy