Increasing Cancer Screening: Small Media Targeting Clients

Task Force Finding*

Small media include videos and printed materials such as letters, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, or newsletters, which convey educational or motivational information. The messages contained in these materials may or may not be tailored to specific people based on information derived from individual assessments. These materials can be distributed through community settings or healthcare systems.

The Task Force recommends the use of small media to increase screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer (by FOBT) on the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness. Evidence is insufficient, however, to determine whether small media are effective in increasing colorectal cancer screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or double contrast barium enema because no studies evaluating these screening procedures were identified.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations for client- and provider-directed interventions to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. [PDF -74KB] Am J Prev Med 2008;35(1S):S21–5.

Review completed: December 2005