Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Think Pink Bahrain, a non-profit organization founded in 2004, is dedicated to increasing breast cancer awareness through education and early detection, with the aim of improving treatment and reducing deaths from this most common cancer. Dissemination of high-quality, timely research evidence to inform decision-making is a common goal of both The Cochrane Collaboration and Think Pink Bahrain.
Objectives: To assess the awareness of recent research and guidance among breast cancer survivors and clinicians.
Methods: Questionnaire based survey of women (60) who have survived breast cancer and clinicians (40) in Bahrain (N = 100). The survey includes questions about the sources of information used by respondents, and about their awareness of the relevant systematic reviews and guidance (such as the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommendations on breast cancer screening, which were issued in 2011).
Results: Fuller results will be presented at the Colloquium but early results from the piloting of the questionnaire indicate very limited awareness by clinicians and breast cancer survivors of recent changes in recommendations about the screening, diagnosis and overall management of breast cancer in women.
Conclusions: Timely consideration of updated recommendations can save lives. The Cochrane Collaboration should explore ways in which up-to-date evidence can be made available to patients and practitioners. One way to achieve this for patients might be to ‘push’ the knowledge to consumer advocacy groups, such as Think Pink, by engaging with ‘champions’ within these organisations. Raising awareness of cliniciansto evidence that might require changes in management strategies may need intervention at the level of policy makers.
Objectives: To assess the awareness of recent research and guidance among breast cancer survivors and clinicians.
Methods: Questionnaire based survey of women (60) who have survived breast cancer and clinicians (40) in Bahrain (N = 100). The survey includes questions about the sources of information used by respondents, and about their awareness of the relevant systematic reviews and guidance (such as the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommendations on breast cancer screening, which were issued in 2011).
Results: Fuller results will be presented at the Colloquium but early results from the piloting of the questionnaire indicate very limited awareness by clinicians and breast cancer survivors of recent changes in recommendations about the screening, diagnosis and overall management of breast cancer in women.
Conclusions: Timely consideration of updated recommendations can save lives. The Cochrane Collaboration should explore ways in which up-to-date evidence can be made available to patients and practitioners. One way to achieve this for patients might be to ‘push’ the knowledge to consumer advocacy groups, such as Think Pink, by engaging with ‘champions’ within these organisations. Raising awareness of cliniciansto evidence that might require changes in management strategies may need intervention at the level of policy makers.