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Is support among patients for colorectal cancer screening susceptible to ‘framing effect’? A GP‐based study
Author(s) -
Young Jane M.,
Bruce Tracey A.,
Ward Jeanette E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he02184
Subject(s) - mcnemar's test , medicine , framing (construction) , framing effect , public health , population , family medicine , nursing , environmental health , health communication , political science , public relations , statistics , mathematics , structural engineering , engineering
Issues addressed To explore whether lay support for government funding of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is influenced by framing effect. Participants and setting Consecutive sample of patients attending GPs in central Sydney, an urban region with poor population health outcomes. Method In our self‐administered survey, patients were asked to rate their level of support for government funding of each of three CRC screening programs where benefits were expressed first as a relative risk reduction (RRR); second, as absolute risk reduction (ARR); or, third, number needed to screen (NNS). Results We received 1,137 responses (67% response fraction). There was significantly greater support for funding of the program whose benefits were expressed as RRR than either ARR (McNemar's test: 21=60.1, p<0.001) or NNS (McNemar's test: 21=143.0, p<0.001). Respondents who were influenced by ‘framing effect’ were significantly and independently more likely to speak English at home and to have completed higher levels of formal education than others. So what? Among GP patients, support for funding of CRC screening is significantly influenced by the way information about its benefits is conveyed. This ‘framing effect’ also appears to be moderated by socio‐demographic characteristics. Our findings invite clarification of public views about the value of CRC screening as part of pilot projects funded by the Commonwealth Government.