Cancer remains a significant global challenge, as evidenced by large variations in incidence and survival rates. Effective diagnostic strategies are important for tackling this problem, where encouraging early detection and reducing the burden of advanced-stage disease is regarded as a key component for improved outcomes. Primary health care is considered an opportune setting for implementing early diagnosis strategies. However, access to care is globally disproportionate, and disparities in public health infrastructures between and within countries can undermine opportunities for earlier diagnosis. Unequal access to initial investigations for possible cancer exists for a variety of political, financial, cultural, social, technological, and geographical reasons. Indeed, marginalized communities in low and high-resource countries may experience the least access, even though their need may be greatest. This collection focuses on the global evidence and equity in access to cancer prevention and diagnostic strategies.
To capture global efforts and novel approaches in this multi-disciplinary area, BMC Global and Public Health is pleased to announce a call for papers for our upcoming collection entitled 'Implementation of cancer strategies in primary care: Addressing global disparities', guest edited by Dr. Tanimola Martins, from the University of Exeter and Professor Suzanne Scott, from the Queen Mary University of London. We envision that this work will inform future research, frameworks, intervention development, and policy.
We are now inviting the submission of Research, Comment, Review, and Opinion articles of outstanding interest covering a breadth of multi-disciplinary studies and advances in global primary care cancer strategies, ranging from observational to interventional, that are focused on:
- International cancer burden/survival rates
- Health economics of cancer strategies and future costs of cancer
- Uptake of screening and barriers/facilitators to screening, including solutions to address these barriers.
- Cancer prevention strategies in low-middle-income countries (LMICs)
- Health behavior change and cancer outcomes
- Cancer knowledge/beliefs/awareness and their impact on diagnostic pathways
- Development and implementation of cancer strategies, including challenges and solutions
- Health care provider analysis/availability and effectiveness of primary care facilities for cancer detection/diagnosis (particularly in LMICs).
- Regional/National/International disparity in cancer strategy research/resources
- Cancer strategies in vulnerable populations
- Primary care cancer diagnosis in LMICs
- Potential for technology/diagnostics in supporting cancer strategies in marginalized communities
We encourage work from local, regional, national, and global partnerships and collaboration among scientists from multi-disciplinary fields and using multiple methodologies. We ask that authors be attentive to the use of non-stigmatizing/preferred language in their manuscripts as outlined in relevant language guidelines for their respective fields.
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