Results were presented from an inventory of existing survey questions and a summary of established cancer screening guidelines. There was overall agreement on the utility of collecting details of early cancer detection behaviours and their determinants. Furthermore, neither a consistent nor a complete series of questions was found concerning cancer and early cancer detection. Prevalence data on early detection behaviours for several cancer sites have been collected periodically. Consequently, there is a small array of early cancer detection questions that are not necessarily comparable over time or across instruments.
Wide variation exists in the statements for many cancer sites.
Participants represented varied expertise from national health agencies in Canada and the United States, provincial governmental and non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. A complete listing of participants is appended. Her presentation was complemented by Mr Gary Catlin, who provided insight into the Canadian National Population Health Survey. Drs Vivek Goel and Fred Ashbury and Ms Tricia Kindree presented the results of a KAB instrument development exercise. These presentations were followed by discussion in plenary and a priority-ranking exercise.