title: Promoting early presentation of breast cancer in women over 70 years old in general practice.
abstract: Delay in presentation contributes to poorer survival of older women with breast cancer. Research has shown the effectiveness of the promoting early presentation (PEP) intervention when delivered by radiographers in the NHS Breast Screening Programme. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the intervention when delivered by practice nurses in general practice.
  
  
  
  The Breast Cancer Awareness Measure was used to compare participants' awareness of breast cancer before, 1 month after and 12 months after the delivery of the PEP intervention. Five hundred and fifty-six women aged over 70 years took part, 308 of whom returned all three surveys.
  
  
  
  The intervention was associated with increased awareness of non-lump breast symptoms and reported breast check frequency. There was a marked increase in breast cancer awareness which persisted for 12 months. Less than 5% of women were classified as 'breast cancer aware' before the intervention, rising to over 25% 1 month afterwards. This percentage dropped slightly after 1 year to just below 20%.
  
  
  
  Delivery of the PEP intervention in general practice was very effective at raising the awareness of breast cancer among older women. Primary care settings are well placed to enhance the reach of this kind of intervention to at-risk women.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Northampton, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Northampton, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pyer
authors.affiliation: Clinical Lead for Applied Health Research, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, Northampton NN5 6UD, UK University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 6TP, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Northampton, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Promoting Early Presentation Group, King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Promoting Early Presentation Group, King's College London, London SE1 3QD, UK.
authors.forename: L J L
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Forbes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: cancer; primary care; public health