Pancreatic Cancer Education: A Scoping Review of Evidence Across Patients, Professionals and the Public

<b>Background</b>: Pancreatic cancer is the least survivable malignancy, with five-year survival below 10%. Its vague, non-specific symptoms contribute to late diagnosis and poor outcomes. Targeted education for healthcare professionals, students, patients, carers, and the public may improve awareness, confidence, and early help-seeking. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize peer-reviewed evidence on pancreatic cancer education, identifying intervention types, outcomes, and gaps in knowledge. <b>Methods</b>: A scoping review was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework. Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched for English-language, peer-reviewed studies evaluating educational interventions on pancreatic cancer for healthcare students, professionals, patients, carers, or the public. Grey literature was excluded to maintain a consistent methodological standard. Data were charted and synthesised narratively. <b>Results</b>: Nine studies (2018-2024) met inclusion criteria, predominantly from high-income countries. Interventions targeted students and professionals (<i>n</i> = 3), patients (<i>n</i> = 2), the public (<i>n</i> = 2), or mixed groups (<i>n</i> = 2), using modalities such as team-based learning, workshops, virtual reality, serious games, and digital animations. Four interrelated themes were identified, encompassing (1) Self-efficacy; (2) Knowledge; (3) Behavior; and (4) Acceptability. Digital and interactive approaches demonstrated particularly strong engagement and learning gains. <b>Conclusions</b>: Pancreatic cancer education shows clear potential to enhance knowledge, confidence, and engagement across diverse audiences. Digital platforms offer scalable opportunities but require quality assurance and long-term evaluation to sustain impact. The evidence base remains limited and fragmented, highlighting the need for validated outcome measures, longitudinal research, and greater international representation to support the integration of education into a global pancreatic cancer control strategy. Future studies should also evaluate how educational interventions influence clinical practice and real-world help-seeking behaviour.

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Publication Details

Journal
Current Oncology
Published
2026-01-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33010033
Primary Topic
Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Pancreatic Cancer Education: A Scoping Review of Evidence Across Patients, Professionals and the Public

Stephanie G. Craig, Gary F. Mitchell, Tara Anderson, Susan A. McLaughlin et al.
Current Oncology
Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
article

Pancreatic Cancer Education: A Scoping Review of Evidence Across Patients, Professionals and the Public

Stephanie G. Craig, Gary F. Mitchell, Tara Anderson, Susan A. McLaughlin, Fadwa Al Halaiqa, Ashikin Atan, Ahmad H. Abu Raddaha, Olivia Watson
article en

Abstract

<b>Background</b>: Pancreatic cancer is the least survivable malignancy, with five-year survival below 10%. Its vague, non-specific symptoms contribute to late diagnosis and poor outcomes. Targeted education for healthcare professionals, students, patients, carers, and the public may improve awareness, confidence, and early help-seeking. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize peer-reviewed evidence on pancreatic cancer education, identifying intervention types, outcomes, and gaps in knowledge. <b>Methods</b>: A scoping review was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework. Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched for English-language, peer-reviewed studies evaluating educational interventions on pancreatic cancer for healthcare students, professionals, patients, carers, or the public. Grey literature was excluded to maintain a consistent methodological standard. Data were charted and synthesised narratively. <b>Results</b>: Nine studies (2018-2024) met inclusion criteria, predominantly from high-income countries. Interventions targeted students and professionals (<i>n</i> = 3), patients (<i>n</i> = 2), the public (<i>n</i> = 2), or mixed groups (<i>n</i> = 2), using modalities such as team-based learning, workshops, virtual reality, serious games, and digital animations. Four interrelated themes were identified, encompassing (1) Self-efficacy; (2) Knowledge; (3) Behavior; and (4) Acceptability. Digital and interactive approaches demonstrated particularly strong engagement and learning gains. <b>Conclusions</b>: Pancreatic cancer education shows clear potential to enhance knowledge, confidence, and engagement across diverse audiences. Digital platforms offer scalable opportunities but require quality assurance and long-term evaluation to sustain impact. The evidence base remains limited and fragmented, highlighting the need for validated outcome measures, longitudinal research, and greater international representation to support the integration of education into a global pancreatic cancer control strategy. Future studies should also evaluate how educational interventions influence clinical practice and real-world help-seeking behaviour.

Current OncologyVol. 33(1)
Queen's University Belfast (GB), International Islamic University Malaysia (MY), The Northern Ireland Cancer Centre (GB), Qatar University (QA)
Department for the Economy, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
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