Religion and cancer prevention: study protocol for a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology of Religion
• Cancer Epidemiology

Background:

• Religiousness may influence health behaviors, including cancer screening uptake.
• Existing research suggests potential links between religious factors and cancer screening utilization.
• A comprehensive synthesis of this evidence is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and appraise observational studies examining the association between religiousness and cancer screening utilization.
• To identify potential mechanisms, such as social networks or personality traits, linking religiousness to screening behavior.
• To inform strategies for increasing cancer screening rates in specific populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of CINAHL, PsycInfo, and PubMed databases.
• Inclusion of observational studies (cross-sectional and longitudinal) on religion and cancer screening, excluding studies on specific ethnic minorities or religious sects.
• Independent data extraction and quality assessment by two reviewers, with narrative synthesis and potential meta-analysis.

Main Results:

• The review will synthesize findings on various dimensions of religiousness (e.g., attendance, intensity) and their association with cancer screening.
• Methodological characteristics and sample demographics of included studies will be described.
• The quality of evidence will be assessed to understand the reliability of the findings.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on religiousness and cancer screening.
• Findings can guide the development of culturally sensitive interventions to enhance cancer screening uptake.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for public health initiatives aiming to reduce cancer disparities.