Cancer screening in France: subjects' and physicians' attitudes

Since screening for cancer has been advocated, funded, and promoted in France, it is important to evaluate the attitudes of subjects in the general population and general practitioners (GPs) toward cancer screening strategies.

EDIFICE is a nationwide opinion poll that was carried out by telephone among a representative sample of 1,504 subjects living in France and aged between 40 and 75 years and among a representative sample of 600 GPs. The questionnaire administered to subjects queried about previous screening for cancer.

Ninety-three percent of women stated that they had undergone at least one mammography. Although rated "A" recommendation-strongly recommended-by the US Preventive Services Task Force, screening for colorectal cancer received less attention than prostate cancer screening which is rated "I"-insufficient evidence-(reported screening rates of 25% and 36%, respectively). Six percent of subjects stated that they had undergone lung cancer screening. GPs' attitudes toward cancer screening showed similar inconsistencies.

It thus appears that understanding of cancer screening practices in the French general population does not match scientific evidence. To a lesser extent, this also holds for GPs.