PEACHD - Piloting European Action on Cancer Health Determinants

Principal investigator (Czech republic):

PhDr. Miroslav Barták, Ph.D, Klinika adiktologie 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze

Funded by

Program EU4Health (2021/2027)

Project number

101129260

Project period

1 Feb 2024 – 31 Jan 2027

Abstract

Inntegrated cancer prevention through lifestyle risk factors - Adapting and operationalising the BRIEF approach

Cancer accounts for nearly a quarter of all annual deaths in Europe, and is set to increase by more than 34% by 2040. In Europe, cancer inequalities exist within populations, with lower socioeconomic (SES) groups suffering disproportionate cancer-related burdens.

Demand for care is outstripping resources in European health systems, especially in countries supporting larger refugee populations, making large-scale, efficient prevention initiatives a priority.

Given that nearly one half of all cancer cases are attributable to behaviours such as smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, overweight and excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure, preventing and controlling cancer greatly relies on shaping human behaviours.

The main objective of PEACHD is to develop and pilot a large-scale integrated screening and brief advice intervention to prevent cancer by addressing lifestyle risk factors: smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, overweight, and UV-exposure.

PEACHD will adapt and operationalise the WHO-EU BRIEF (2022) approach to implementing brief interventions in primary care to different European contexts and populations to tackle health inequalities; using participatory processes to align with objectives of the EU Joint Action on Cancer and to define and co-create the intervention protocols and tools to be used in 3 different settings.

The tools will be tailored and piloted for feasibility in three countries: Poland, Czech Republic and Spain (Catalonia), with special attention to refugees/migrants, and low-SES populations.

Concretely, PEACHD aims to:

– develop and adapt a face-to-face intervention and digital tool to tackle lifestyle behaviours that increase the risk of cancer (and other NCDs);

– to train health professionals, social workers, community care providers, and Ukrainian professionals in the intervention and promotion of the digital tool;

– and to study the programme reach in the general population, low-SES groups, and displaced individuals.

Expected results:

PEACHD is expected to have an impact in key scientific and societal areas for the EU, predominantly in producing and disseminating new knowledge, supporting implementing innovative interventions, reducing the cancer burden (and burden of other NCDs), and supporting evidence-based decision making.

PEACHD will have an impact on EU citizens by supporting and complementing the Joint Action in reducing the overall cancer burden and implementing the EU4Health Programme’s general objective of improving and fostering health. It will have further impact in the cross-cutting priority area of reducing health inequalities by targeting vulnerable groups, particularly low-SES and displaced populations.

Broadly, the outcomes of PEACHD include:

Developing and piloting a tailored, operational, multi-factor screening and brief intervention (SBI) addressing lifestyle-related risk factors for cancer and other NCD in primary and community care settings;

Piloting training for health and community care professionals working with vulnerable groups in delivering the intervention;

Guidance for delivering the training and adapting it to local contexts.

PEACHD results will contribute new knowledge in the areas of

Identifying priorities and needs for cancer prevention through gaps analysis reports and evidence reviews;

Practical models for addressing multiple risk factors in parallel through integrated screening and brief intervention;

Tailoring lifestyle-modification programmes for delivery in different contexts for specific target groups (migrant and low-SES populations) through participatory processes;

System-level guidance for adaptation and implementation of future SBI programmes for multiple lifestyle risk factors with different populations and contexts.

Picture from the kick-off meeting held on 14–15 February 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Third from the left Miroslav Barták, PhD, and sixth from the left Benjamin Petruželka, PhD, representatives for CUNI, Czech Republic  

Project outputs

Flyer