[Primary and secondary prevention of cancer in women: How can awareness be improved? A literature review]

Abstract

Background: Cancer in women is a major public health concern especially since primary and secondary prevention can reduce mortality. Institutional interventions could play an important role by working directly with healthcare providers. Thus, the objective of this literature review is to draw up an inventory of the interventions proposed to promote the prevention of breast and cervical cancer and to analyze their feasibility or applicability in the French institutional context.

Methods: The literature review was conducted on Cairn, Cochrane, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases with relevant keywords.

Results: Forty articles were selected. Interventions focusing on breast and cervical cancer have been quite similar. The format is usually a written document presenting a personalized letter inviting the recipient to participate in a screening program. Paper or call reminders are pivotal tools. Educational groups involving a few sessions, as well as individual education, are particularly important to increase women's knowledge about lesser known prevention behaviors (ex. breast self-examination).

Conclusion: This work points out concrete ways to establish relevant actions for secondary prevention of cancer in women. A personalized approach (ex., sending personalized letters) appears to be a relevant lever to incite women to participate.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer du col de l’utérus; Cancer du sein; Cervical cancer; Primary prevention; Prévention primaire; Prévention secondaire; Secondary prevention.