Background: The definition of community health outreach to promote the health of vulnerable populations depends heavily on the particulars of the given health project and community. There is no consistency in the definitions attached to the concept itself. Our study aimed to clarify the general definition of community health outreach to facilitate its understanding and use. Methods: Walker and Avant’s (2010) method of concept analysis was used to understand community health outreach. A total of 45 articles were included in the analysis after having searched for text on database portals like PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL complete and EMBASE published between 2010 and 2018. Results: The defining attributes of the concept of community health outreach were purposive, temporary, mobile and collaboration with community. The antecedents were population facing health risks and awareness of health risks. The consequences were increased accessibility and health promotion. Conclusion: This study proposed the definition of community health outreach as a temporary, mobile project that involves the collaboration of a community to undertake its purposeful health intervention of reaching a population facing health risks. This definition provides a general understanding of the outreach undertaken by health workers and enables the strong connection between health professionals and community residents.
Bomi Park, Yun Yeong Lee, Soo Yeon Song, Hye Young Shin, Mina Suh, Kui Son Choi, and Jae Kwan Jun. Gut and Liver 2022;16:930-41. https://doi.org/10.5009/gnl210419
OBJECTIVES: Since 2002, the Korean government has provided breast cancer screening as part of the National Cancer Screening Program. This study reported trends in the screening rate among Korean women from 2005 to 2020, including organized and opportunistic screening for breast cancer.METHODS: Data from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey, an annual cross-sectional nationwide survey, were collected using a structured questionnaire between 2005 and 2020. The study population included 23,702 women aged 40-74 years with no history of cancer. We estimated the screening rate based on the current recommendation of biennial mammographic screening for breast cancer. In addition, a joinpoint trend analysis was performed for breast cancer screening rates among various subgroups.RESULTS: In 2020, the breast cancer screening rate was 63.5%, reflecting an annual increase of 7.72% (95% confidence interval 5.53 to 9.95) between 2005 and 2012, followed by non-significant trends thereafter. In particular, a significant decrease in the breast cancer screening rate was observed in the subgroups aged 50-59 years old, with 12-15 years of education, and living in rural areas.CONCLUSIONS: Although there has been substantial improvement in breast cancer screening rates in Korean women, the trend has flattened in recent years. Therefore, continual efforts are required to identify subgroups with unmet needs and solve barriers to the uptake of breast cancer screening.
Identifying preferences for stool collection devices may help increase uptake rates for colorectal cancer screening via fecal immunochemical test (FIT). This study surveyed satisfaction with different devices utilized to collect stool samples for FIT: a conventional container and a sampling bottle (Eiken OC-Sensor). This cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Cancer Center, Korea. Participants aged 50–74 years who used either a conventional container or a sampling bottle to collect a stool sample for FIT were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to survey their satisfaction with the stool collection process and their intentions to undergo FIT in subsequent screening rounds. In total, 1657 participants (1224 conventional container, 433 sampling bottle) were included for analysis. Satisfaction with the sampling bottle was higher than that with the conventional container (79.9% vs.73.0%, p = 0.005, respectively; aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.16–2.00). Participants satisfied with the sampling bottle were more likely to be female, be of younger age (50–64 years old), have higher household income, and have prior experience with FIT. Intentions to undergo subsequent screening were stronger among those given the sampling bottle than those given the conventional container (aOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.28–2 .48). Satisfaction with the stool collection process was higher with the sampling bottle. However, additional studies are needed to validate whether the increased satisfaction and stronger intentions to undergo subsequent screening with the sampling bottle could actually lead to increased uptake in subsequent rounds, along with analysis of the device’s cost effectiveness.