This study article, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, highlights the work of the Joint Action PreventNCD on personalised prevention and risk stratification. The research explores how integrating genetic, behavioural, and social risk factors can enhance the prevention of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
Through literature reviews, public engagement activities, expert consultations, and pilot studies across Europe, the article demonstrates how individual characteristics such as genetic susceptibility, tobacco use, and physical inactivity can inform tailored interventions. The approach aims to identify individuals at higher risk and provide more effective prevention strategies.
The work also considers the ethical, legal, and social implications of personalised prevention, ensuring that advances in genomics and data-driven health approaches are implemented in a fair and equitable way. Lessons from risk communication during the COVID-19 pandemic are applied to develop improved health communication frameworks for NCD prevention.
By integrating personalised risk-stratified prevention into public health, the Joint Action contributes to reducing the burden of NCDs and promoting equitable access to prevention across Europe.
Read the full article in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.