Cancer Prevention & Control, Client-oriented Screening Interventions: One-on-One Education
One-on-one education delivers information to individuals about indications for, benefits of, and ways to overcome barriers to cancer screening with the goal of informing, encouraging, and motivating them to seek recommended screening. These messages are delivered by healthcare workers or other health professionals, lay health advisors, or volunteers, and are conducted by telephone or in person in medical, community, worksite, or household settings.
These interventions can be untailored to address the overall target population or tailored with the intent to reach one specific person, based on characteristics unique to that person, related to the outcome of interest, and derived from an individual assessment. One-on-one education is often accompanied by supporting materials delivered via small media (e.g., brochures), and may also involve client reminders.
Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of one-on-one education to increase screening for breast and cervical cancers on the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness. The Task Force also recommends the use of one-on-one education to increase colorectal cancer screening with fecal occult blood testing based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness.
Evidence is insufficient, however, to determine the effectiveness of one-on-one education in increasing colorectal cancer screening with other tests, because only two qualifying studies assessed colonoscopy with inconsistent results, and one qualifying study for flexible sigmoidoscopy found no effect.
Task Force Finding & Rationale Statement
The Task Force recommendation was made in March 2010. It is based on evidence from a previously completed review (search period 1966-2004) and an updated review (search period 2004-2008). Updates of reviews are conducted to incorporate more recent evidence.
These reviews were conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to cancer prevention and control. Please subscribe to be notified as new materials on this topic become available.
Read a summary of findings from the previous review or visit the Cancer Prevention and Control section of our publications page to access the complete articles.
Find a Research-Tested Intervention Program (RTIP) about the use of one-on-one education to increase breast 
, cervical or colorectal cancer screening. (What is an RTIP?).
Disclaimer
The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.
Sample Citation
The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation:
Guide to Community Preventive Services. Cancer prevention & control, client-oriented screening interventions: one-on-one education (abbreviated).
www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/screening/client-oriented/OneOnOneEducation.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.
Review completed: March 2010
- Page last reviewed: June 16, 2011
- Page last updated: December 13, 2011
- Content source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services
What are RTIPs and why consider them?
Partners
Contact Us:
- Community Guide Branch
Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office (EAPO)
Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (OSELS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Mailstop E-69
Atlanta, GA 30333 - Community Guide
