Effects and usability of Cancer Risk Test (KRT).

Background:

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the Netherlands. About 30% to 50% of these deaths were preventable by a healthy lifestyle.

The Cancer Risk Test is a test that generates a personal risk profile for the 12 most common cancers based on lifestyle questions respondents have to fill in. The test explicates what lifestyle behaviors could be improved in order to decrease the risk on getting the particular type of cancer.



Research population:

People between 40 and 70 years old that do not suffer from cancer currently and did not have experiences with cancer themselves in the past.



Method:

Qualitative study: Performing an usability test and conducting an interview to research whether the chosen format of the test is accurate (N = 15).

Quantitative study: Testing the effects of the Cancer Risk Test on social-cognitive determinants and intention to perform a healthier (less cancer threatening) lifestyle. Respondents will randomly be assigned to either the intervention or control group and have to fill in an online questionnaire at 3 time moments (T0- T1 (1 months) - T2 (3 months) (N = 3000).



Intervention:

The intervention group will perform the test prior to T0.



Main parameters:

Knowledge, risk perception, health locus of control, worry, and intention to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors.

1. Respondents that perform the cancer risk test will have a higher level of awareness-related determinants compared to respondents that do not perform this test;

2. Respondents that perform the cancer risk test will have a higher level of intention to perform healthier (less cancer-threatening) lifestyles related determinants compared to respondents that do not perform this test.

1. T0;

2. T1 (1 month);

3. T2 (3 months).

Intervention consists of performing the Cancer Risk Test. This test generates a personal risk profile for the 12 most common cancers based on lifestyle questions respondents have to fill in. The test explicates what lifestyle behaviors could be improved in order to decrease the risk on getting the particular cancer.



The control group will not perform the KRT. They will only fill in the online questionnaire.