Mammographic screening programmes in Europe: organization, coverage and participation

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Oncology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Population mammographic screening programs are crucial for early breast cancer detection in Europe.
• Monitoring participation and coverage is essential for evaluating program effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize participation and coverage rates in European population mammographic screening programs.
• To assess the feasibility of European-wide screening monitoring using a centralized data warehouse.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the European Network for Information on Cancer (EUNICE) data warehouse, specifically the EBCSM system.
• Collected data on program characteristics, coverage, and participation from national and regional programs across 18 European countries.
• Data primarily focused on the years 2005-2007, targeting women aged 50-69.

Main Results:

• The study covered 26.9 million women, with an average participation rate of 53.4% (66.4% excluding Poland).
• Only 48.2% of the target population were actually screened, despite high invitation coverage (79.3%).
• Thirteen of 26 programs met the EU benchmark for acceptable participation (>70%).

Conclusions:

• The EBCSM data warehouse facilitates European-wide screening monitoring, though system refinement and data harmonization are needed.
• Significant variations in examination coverage (more than three-fold difference) necessitate careful consideration during program evaluation.
• Further efforts are required to fully integrate all European countries into the monitoring system.