Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39736556›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2024

Information needs for cancer screening and associated factors of information-seeking behaviour: a qualitative systematic review.

Mingyao Zhou, Yuqing Wu, Dan Wang, Fang Cheng

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Developing and Assessing the Acceptability of an Information Booklet for Patients in Surveillance for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: An Intervention Development Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Mingyao ZhouSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Yuqing WuSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Dan WangSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Fang ChengSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. chfnancy@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAt present, the participation rate in cancer screening is still not ideal, and the lack of screening information or misunderstanding of information is an important factor hindering cancer screening behaviour. Therefore, a systematic synthesis of information needs related to cancer screening is critical.

methodsOn July 23, 2024, we searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, EBSCO, PsycINFO, Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL to collect qualitative or mixed-methods studies on information needs of cancer screening. We also searched for grey literature on OpenGrey and Google websites. Data were synthesised using Sandelowski and Barroso's framework. A top-down approach was adopted to group and synthesise the encodes and then generate analytical themes.

resultsA total of 37 studies were included. The results of the analysis of cancer screening-related information needs content, cancer-specific information needs content, requirements and preferences for information, and associated factors of information-seeking behaviour were reported. Based on the event timeline, we summarised the information needs of the screening demand side into four themes. Their information needs focus on disease risk factors, signs and symptoms, the importance of screening, the benefits and harms of screening, the detailed screening process, and screening results and explanations. Regarding cancer-specific information needs content, we summarised the specific information needs of cervical, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer. By referring to relevant concepts in the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking, we synthesised the requirements and preferences for information according to the themes of editorial tone, communication potential, recommended information channels, and recommended source place. The information-seeking behaviours of the screening demanders are mainly passive attention and active searching. The common factors leading to the passive attention of screening demanders are demographic factors and fear of cancer. The most common reason for them to actively search information is lack of information.

conclusionsThe list of information needs identified in this review can serve as a reference for health professionals and information service providers before carrying out screening-related work to help the cancer screening participants obtain valuable information.

Indexed as

Early Detection of CancerInformation Seeking BehaviorHumansNeeds AssessmentNeoplasmsQualitative ResearchCancer screeningInformation needsInformation-seeking behaviourSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39736556
PMCPMC11684248

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.