Laying the foundations to reduce health inequalities in cancer prevention and treatment
Categories: Research using linked data, Research findings, ADR Wales, Health & wellbeing
31 March 2025
A new Data Insight from ADR Wales researchers explores how linked data can improve cancer prevention and treatment outcomes by identifying inequalities in screening participation. The study assessed the feasibility of integrating cancer service data - such as screening and diagnosis records - with administrative datasets in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank.
Findings highlight that sociodemographic factors impact screening uptake, with lower participation among single individuals, those with lower education, and people in more deprived areas. These insights will inform targeted interventions to enhance early detection and prevention.
This research supports the Cancer Data-Driven Detection (CD3) programme, a £10 million initiative to identify individual cancer risk, funded by Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. ADR UK is contributing to CD3 by linking administrative and health data to explore cancer incidence in Wales, helping to uncover patterns and inequalities in screening.
Dr Emma Gordon, Director of the ADR UK Strategic Hub and incoming Co-Director of IPDLN, said: "This report signals the start of how ADR UK will be contributing to the CD3 programme. Everything we do is focussed on using linked administrative data to improve people’s lives, though research. The findings from this initial study give us tantalising glimses into the potential for using administrative data in this context. I am really looking forward to seeing how this research develops over the coming years, towards actionable outcomes that improve early detection and diagnosis of cancers."
