Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41758018›Full record

ArticleJournal of public health (Oxford, England)2026

The influence of rural residency on the uptake of screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers in Scotland.

Lisa Iversen, Edwin Amalraj Raja, Mintu Nath, Gerald Lip, Valerie Speirs, Jamie Collins, Lorna Philip, Sharon J B Hanley, Peter Murchie

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of public health (Oxford, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Lisa IversenAcademic Primary Care, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2524-5229
Edwin Amalraj RajaBiostatistics & Health Data Science, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0853-9724
Mintu NathBiostatistics & Health Data Science, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
Gerald LipNorth East Scotland Breast Screening Programme, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen AB25 2XF, UK.
Valerie SpeirsInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
Jamie CollinsNHS Grampian, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, UK.
Lorna PhilipGeography & Environment, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK.
Sharon J B HanleyAcademic Primary Care, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
Peter MurchieAcademic Primary Care, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9968-5991

Funding

NHS Grampian Endowment Research Grant 19/026
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere has been little examination of rural-urban residency and cancer screening. We investigated rural-urban variations in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening uptake across Scotland.

methodsUsing aggregate data and cross-sectional analyses, we calculated uptake and detection rates (breast and bowel screening). We modelled uptake by urban and rural residency, age group, sex (bowel screening only), year, health board, and deprivation using multivariable logistic regression with appropriate interaction terms.

resultsCervical screening uptake was higher in rural than urban areas (under 50s: 75.9% vs. 69.1%; 50+: 77.5% vs. 75.3%). Mammography uptake was: 77.0% in rural; 71.0% in urban areas. Bowel screening uptake was: 56.6% in urban; 62.5% in rural areas. In multivariable models, two-way interaction effects between residency and deprivation, and between residency and health board, were statistically significant (P < .05). Rural residency did not confer universally higher uptake. Breast and bowel cancer detection were similar in both areas.

conclusionsThe relationship between residence and cancer screening uptake varied across Scotland. Uptake patterns were complex and not consistent across all rural areas, likely reflecting Scotland's topography and characteristics of the screening eligible. Efforts to improve screening uptake would likely benefit from local rather than national public health policies.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsEarly Detection of CancerRural PopulationUterine Cervical NeoplasmsAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedScotlandUrban Populationadultscancerscreening

Identifiers

PMID41758018
PMCPMC13223569

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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.