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Breast screening: GPs' beliefs, attitudes and practices
H Bekker1, L Morrison, T M Marteau
1Psychology and Genetics Research Group, UMDS, London, UK.
Family Practice
|May 13, 1999
Summary
General practitioners' (GPs) knowledge and attitudes influence breast screening attendance. Enhancing GPs' perception of breast cancer threat and their role in screening can improve women's participation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Oncology
- General Practice
Background:
- Breast cancer screening is crucial for early detection and improved outcomes.
- General Practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in patient screening adherence.
- Understanding GPs' perspectives is key to optimizing screening programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess General Practitioners' knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding breast screening.
- To examine the association between these factors and practice-based breast screening organization.
Main Methods:
- A stratified randomized sample of 158 GPs was interviewed.
- Data collection focused on knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and screening practices.
Main Results:
- 65% of GPs verified invitation list accuracy, correlating with greater breast cancer risk factor knowledge.
- 37% of GPs followed up non-attendees, showing higher perceived threat, belief in their role, and more positive attitudes towards screening.
Conclusions:
- Improving women's breast screening attendance can be achieved by enhancing GPs' threat perception of breast cancer.
- Addressing GPs' concerns and reinforcing the importance of primary care in national screening programs are vital.
- Optimizing GP engagement is essential for effective breast cancer screening initiatives.