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The Article in Brief
Cancer Risk Assessment Tools in Primary Care: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Jennifer G. Walker , and colleagues
Background Risk assessment tools can be used in primary care to identify those most likely to benefit from tailored prevention efforts. This is the first systematic review of randomized controlled trials implementing cancer risk tools in primary care.
What This Study Found Although cancer risk assessment tools may increase patients' risk perception, knowledge, and screening intentions, they do not necessarily change screening behavior. Overall, use of a tool was greater if initiated by patients, if used by a dedicated clinician, and when combined with decision support. Health promotion messages within the tool demonstrated positive effects on behavior change.
Implications
- The findings suggest that while risk tools may increase actual intentions to have cancer screenings, additional interventions at the clinician or health system level may be needed to increase risk-appropriate cancer screening behavior.