Dr Joan Austoker

Professor Joan Austoker

Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research Group
Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oxford
Oxford

Education, informed choice and patient experience in cancer screening and early diagnosis

Dr Joan Austoker directs the Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research Group at the University of Oxford. Her team's research is aimed at providing people with evidence-based information to understand more about cancer screening and early diagnosis. Her work involves developing and evaluating patient and primary care educational materials, leaflets and brochures, largely focused on breast, cervical, bowel and prostate cancers.

Dr Austoker and her team have developed decision aids about bowel screening, and PSA testing for prostate cancer. As well as this work, they have also developed a range of written information packs for health professionals, covering breast and cervical screening and family history of breast cancer. They have also put together a training programme to help health workers communicate better with people and anxious members of the public about breast cancer and breast awareness.

Additionally they are investigating the psychological effects of regular breast screening in younger women with a family history of the disease. And they have studied the importance of identifying early symptoms of ovarian and bowel cancer.

Dr Austoker is a leading figure in her field. Her work is vital in enabling people to understand more about cancer, in particular about screening and early diagnosis, and to make informed decisions about their health.

Browse related content

 

If you want to help support more research like this, please visit our Donate Now page.