title: The influence of the 'cancer effect' on young women's responses to overdiagnosis in cervical screening.
abstract: To examine the 'cancer effect' (higher risk perceptions and negative emotion in cancer-related contexts) on young women's responses to overdiagnosis (identification and treatment of inconsequential disease) in cervical cancer screening.
  
  
  
  In a randomised experimental study, 168 women aged 17-24 read 1 of 4 texts outlining benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening or a fictitious non-cancer screening test; each presented with or without overdiagnosis information. Screening intentions and psychosocial outcomes were measured (T1). Overdiagnosis information was then presented to participants who did not receive it initially and intentions reassessed (T2).
  
  
  
  Mean screening intentions were not significantly different across groups. The distribution of intentions for cancer vs non-cancer screening differed significantly. Cancer information led to more extreme responses. Participants receiving overdiagnosis information at T2 reduced their screening intentions significantly. Perceived risk of disease was lower when overdiagnosis information was presented (non-cancer condition only). Higher negative emotion predicted higher screening intentions (cancer condition only).
  
  
  
  This pattern of results suggests that a 'cancer effect' may be present among young women given identical information about cancer and non-cancer screening.
  
  
  
  The 'cancer effect' may contribute to community eagerness for cancer screening despite provision of information about harms like overdiagnosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Katelyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Screening & Test Evaluation Program (STEP) and Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jolyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hersch
authors.affiliation: Screening & Test Evaluation Program (STEP), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Screening & Test Evaluation Program (STEP) and Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: Screening & Test Evaluation Program (STEP) and Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: kirsten.mccaffery@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCaffery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008403:Mass Screening; D000069342:Medical Overuse; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical cancer screening; Consumer health information; Decision making; Overdiagnosis