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Mapping interventions to increase uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening along the intervention ladder: A systematic review

Dou, J and Liu Z (2026)

Health Evidence - 10.1080/17437199.2026.2623887

Evidence Categories

  • Care setting: Not described
  • Population group: Adults
  • Population group: Women
  • Population group: Under-screened
  • Intervention: Reminder/recall services
  • Intervention: Self-Sampling Kit
  • Outcome: Screening: Uptake of breast cancer screening
  • Outcome: Screening: Uptake of cervical cancer screening

Type of Evidence

Systematic Review

Aims

This systematic review applies the Intervention Ladder framework to classify interventions by their level of intrusiveness and assess their effectiveness in increasing uptake. 

Findings

Results showed that low-intensity strategies that support individual autonomy, such as mailed reminders or self-sampling kits, were consistently effective. In contrast, more intrusive interventions were infrequently implemented and showed no clear added benefit. These findings highlight the value of ethically proportionate, accessible strategies to enhance participation in cancer screening.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the value of ethically proportionate, accessible strategies to enhance participation in cancer screening.