Cancer literacy applied in national cancer control plans – from policy to strategic guidelines in the EU. (13th November 2019) - Sørensen, K
Abstract: Background: The study concerned a systematic analysis of National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) regarding cancer literacy. A national cancer control programme (NCCP) is a public health strategy designed to reduce cancer cases and improve quality of life of cancer patients. Cancer literacy is critically important for cancer patients who must make a complex set of diagnostic and treatment-based decisions at times of physical and emotional distress. Yet, it is unclear to what extent cancer literacy is reflected in cancer strategies such as the NCCPs. Methods: The aim was to identify NCCPs from the EU to explore if health literacy or cancer literacy was included as a strategic priority. The NCCPs were retrieved in August to November 2018 from online portals as well as through key informants specialised in public health and health literacy. Results: The data collection yielded 45 NCCPs of which 31 originated from the EU Member States. The document analysis revealed that six out of 45 NCCPs specifically included the term health literacy. The countries concern Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, New Zealand and Maryland, the U.S. In addition, only one NCCP entailed the term 'cancer literacý, namely the plan from Maryland focusing on 'oral cancer literacý, specifically. Discussion: Although, it is politically recognized that improving the health literacy of the population can be an effective strategy to promote a more (cost)-effective use of the healthcare services and population health the study of NCCPs revealed that 'health literacy' in general and 'cancer literacý in particular, have not yet been commonly implemented as part of NCCPs. The countries who have actively mentioned health literacy, were all countries where health literacy is on the political health agenda in various ways.