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Table 1 Health check intervention content

From: Feasibility and acceptability of a cancer symptom awareness intervention for adults living in socioeconomically deprived communities

Intervention components

Description of component

Purpose of component

Summary of intervention functions

Behaviour change techniques [22]

Example of application within the intervention

Touchscreen questionnaire: “About you”

(7 questions)

Background information about the participant including personal and family history of cancer, body mass index and cancer screening attendancea.

Contextual information about potential risk factors for cancer.

Education, persuasion, environmental restructuring

Information about health consequencesb, prompts/cuesc

Information about the benefits of early diagnosis.

Information about factors that may increase the risk of developing cancer (e.g. being overweight).

Questions about previous engagement with cancer screening.

Touchscreen questionnaire: “Your lifestyle”

(5 questions)

Diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity.

Contextual information about potential risk factors for cancer.

Education, persuasion, enablement

Information about health consequences, credible sourced, social supporte

Signposting to local services, such as Stop Smoking Wales.

Encouragement to pass the information on to friends or family.

Touchscreen questionnaire: “Your health”

(14 questions)

Cancer warning signs and symptoms (see Additional file 2)

Contextual information about potential symptoms of cancer.

Education, persuasion, environmental restructuring

Information about health consequences, prompts/cues, credible source

Signposting to General Practitioner.

Information about cancer warning signs and symptoms to encourage early presentation within three weeks of noticing a potential symptom (now and in the future).

Personalised results

Displays a printable summary of the individual’s results and action (for example, to present to their General Practitioner with potential cancer symptoms).

Provides participants with an overview of their health check results, to act as a prompt for change (e.g. discussion at their GP appointment).

Education, enablement

Information about health consequences, action planningf, goal setting g

Participants complete the following statement: “If I notice a symptom, I will go and see my ________ within _______ of noticing the symptom”.

Remind participants about the benefits of early diagnosis.

  1. aNational cancer screening programmes in Wales include bowel (every two years for men and women, aged 60–74), breast (all women aged 50–70) and cervical (women aged 25–49 every three years, women aged 50–64 every five years)
  2. bProviding information about health consequences of performing the suggested behaviour
  3. cIntroduction and definition of environmental or social stimulus with the purpose of prompting or cueing the suggested behaviour
  4. dPresenting verbal or visual communication from the credible source in favour of or against a behaviour
  5. eAdvising on practical and emotional social support (e.g. from friends or family)
  6. fPrompt detailed planning of performance of the behaviour (e.g. inclusion of context, frequency, duration and intensity)
  7. gSetting or agreeing a goal defined in terms of behaviour to be achieved
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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