Relocation of a static breast screening unit: a study of factors affecting attendance

To assess the effect of relocation of an urban static breast screening unit on the attendance rates (uptake) in different parts of the catchment area.

The Bolton Breast Screening Programme.

The attendance rates for screening for patients in each of the seven Bolton postcode districts were obtained from the breast screening computer system for the 29 months prior to and 38 months following the relocation of the screening unit.

The overall attendance rate for screening in Bolton fell by 1%. The fall was most marked in BL1 (2.0%), the location of the original screening unit. BL4, the district housing the new unit, showed an increase in attendance of 1.1%. The other districts showed a similar trend with smaller reductions in attendances from districts that were closer to the screening unit than before, and vice versa. The direct distance between the centre of the women's home postcode district and the screening unit had a significant effect on the attendance rate (p = 0.045). For each kilometre further from the screening unit, the attendance decreased by approximately 2%. However, there was a 6.4% difference between the highest and lowest district attendance rates, the highest rates being in the less deprived areas.

There is a significant inverse relationship between the distance a woman must travel for screening and her likelihood of attending. However, this has a relatively minor effect on attendance rates compared to that of socioeconomic factors.