The researchers will focus their efforts on encouraging low uptake groups which include men, those who live in areas of deprivation and people who belong to certain ethnic groups, to be screened for early-stage bowel cancer. In Scotland, there is no significant difference in incidence of the disease across socio-economic groups but survival rates are poorer amongst lower income groups.
Professor David Weller, Head of General Practice at the University of Edinburgh and leader of the study, said: "With the announcement of a new screening programme for bowel cancer in Scotland, it is particularly important to reach groups of people who would benefit from it most. One such group in Scotland includes those on low incomes, who tend to have higher rates of most illnesses related to lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and physical inactivity, and who would benefit from this new cancer screening programme.
"Screening has been seen to cut death rates in the population, and we have evidence to show that a national screening programme would be successful. However, we still don't know how well our strategies using primary care to target low-uptake groups are working. This study will fill in an important gap in our knowledge."
The project involves researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Dundee, Warwick and Essex and is funded by the National Institute of Health in the US.