The Agency for Healthcare Research ...

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a just discovered evidence report on cancer ascendency interventions. "Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 79--Diffusion and Dissemination of Evidence-based Cancer check Interventions" is available online at www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/cancon sumhtm

The report evaluated the effectiveness of cancer direction interventions. It found that passive approaches (diffusional techniques), as it was as mailing materials to targeted populations, are generally ineffective. Active approaches (dissemination methods) as it is as the train-the-trainer model, media campaigns, and educating opinion leaders, are more likely to be effective in promoting change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors when used alone or in combination.

For smoking cessation, effective interventions include brief advice from a health care professional, office willings (e.g., reminder systems, telephone counseling as a single intervention or in combination with other interventions, individual smoking cessation counseling), and media campaigns.

For dietary changes, effective interventions include tailored and multiple contacts directed at high-risk patients. Adequate physician training also was noted as an effective intervention.

For breast cancer screening, effective strategies for increasing mammography include invitations or mailed reminders, office plan interventions (i.e., prompts), and financial barrier interventions, especially when a multi-component strategy is undertaken that combines behavior and cognitive interventions.

For cervical cancer screening, effective interventions include office arrangements (computer or manual chart reminders) and invitations and reminders to patients. There is limited evidence of effectiveness for educational materials, telephone counseling, removal of financial barriers, media campaigns, and advice from health care professionals.

There are inadequate data regarding effective interventions for the have charge of of cancer pain. Promising interventions include the transmission of patient's self-reported pain scales to oncologists, pain education for nursing staff, and the use of daily pain diaries.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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