• Adrian Edwards, Silvana Unigwe, Glyn Elwyn, and Kerenza Hood.
• Department of Primary Care, University of Wales Swansea Clinical School, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP. a.g.k.edwards@swan.ac.uk
• BMJ. 2003 Sep 27; 327 (7417): 703-9.

ObjectiveTo assess the effects of different types of individualised risk communication for patients who are deciding whether to participate in screening.DesignSystematic review.Data SourcesSpecialist register of the Cochrane consumers and communication review group, scientific databases, and a manual follow up of references.Selection Of StudiesStudies were randomised controlled trials addressing decisions by patients whether or not to undergo screening and incorporating an intervention with an element of "individualised" risk communication-based on the individual's own risk factors for a condition (such as age or family history).Outcome MeasuresThe principal outcome was uptake of screening tests; further cognitive and affective measures were also assessed to gauge informed decision making.Results13 studies were included, 10 of which addressed mammography programmes. Individualised risk communication was associated with an increased uptake of screening tests (odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.11 to 2.03). Few cognitive or affective outcomes were reported consistently, so it was not possible to conclude whether this increase in the uptake of tests was related to informed decision making by patients.ConclusionsIndividualised risk estimates may be effective for purposes of population health, but their effects on increasing uptake of screening programmes may not be interpretable as evidence of informed decision making by patients. Greater attention is required to ways of developing interventions for screening programmes that can achieve this.

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