Radiographer gender and breast-screening uptake

Area of Science:

• Radiologic technology
• Public health
• Gender studies

Background:

• BreastCheck, Ireland's National Breast Screening Programme, faces radiographer recruitment challenges.
• Current expansion requires doubling staff, with only female radiographers employed to date.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess women's attitudes towards male radiographers.
• To evaluate the potential impact of male radiographers on subsequent screening attendance.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 2000 women recently screened by BreastCheck.
• 85.8% of the sample completed the questionnaire, detailing reactions to the possibility of male radiographers.

Main Results:

• 85.8% of surveyed women expressed potential embarrassment with male radiographers, particularly younger women and those at static units.
• 17.5% indicated they would not return for future screenings if male radiographers were present; 9% would not have proceeded with screening.
• One-quarter felt the potential presence of male radiographers would negatively impact their perception of the BreastCheck programme.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of women express concerns regarding male radiographers, potentially affecting screening participation.
• The findings necessitate a balance between promoting equality in the workforce and maintaining the performance of breast screening programmes.
• Further research is needed to address these attitudes and ensure continued high uptake in breast cancer screening services.