Cancer Prevention & Control, Promoting Informed Decision Making for Cancer Screening

Task Force Finding*

This report addresses the area of informed decision making (IDM) as it relates to cancer screening, specifically whether IDM interventions (1) promote understanding of cancer screening; (2) facilitate participation in decision making about cancer screening at a level that is comfortable for individuals; or (3) encourage individuals to make cancer-screening decisions consistent with their preferences and values.

According to Community Guide rules of evidence, current evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of IDM interventions for individuals in healthcare settings, for community members outside of healthcare settings, or for interventions targeted to healthcare systems and providers. In addition, too few studies were available to determine the effectiveness of IDM interventions targeted to community members outside of healthcare systems or targeted to healthcare systems and providers.

*From the following publication:

Briss PA, Rimer BK, Reilley B, et al. Promoting informed decisions about cancer screening in communities and healthcare systems: a conceptual background and systematic review from the Task Force on Community Preventive Services. [PDF - 290KB] Am J Prev Med 2004;26(1):67-80.

Review completed: February 2002