In a demonstration project, education representatives were trained to perform "academic detailing" of cancer control information for physicians and for staff members of family physicians' offices. One-hour visits were arranged at specific times so as to avoid disruption of patient care activities. The representatives led discussions of salient tissues regarding early detection of cancer at three sites (breast, colon-rectum, and prostate) and left relevant patient education materials. Seventeen visits were made to 11 practices involving 22 physicians and 85 staff members. Ten items were selected as evidence of favorable cancer control activities: ashtrays had been removed from the waiting room, patient information was displayed in a wall rack, medical records contained a method for prompting the physician about preventive or screening services that were due to be performed, a recall system reminded patients of services that were due to be performed, the receptionist was involved, the nurse was involved, American Cancer Society (ACS)-recommended services were used or had been added, the physician talked to other physicians about the visit discussions, services or materials had been requested from the local ACS unit, and staff members or physicians had volunteered to serve the ACS. The compliance rate was 35% at baseline. At post-intervention assessment, the compliance rate had increased by 35%, for a final compliance rate of 70%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)