Intermittent attendance at breast cancer screening

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Understanding reasons for intermittent attendance in breast cancer screening is crucial for improving screening program effectiveness.
• Previous research has focused on non-attenders, neglecting those who attend sporadically.
• This study addresses the gap in knowledge regarding women who miss screening appointments but later return.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors influencing why women skip breast screening rounds.
• To identify characteristics of previous non-attenders (PNAs) who return to screening.
• To differentiate between first-time PNAs and subsequent PNAs.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective quantitative study involving a structured questionnaire sent to 2500 women.
• Categorization of participants into First PNAs, First Controls, Subsequent PNAs, and Subsequent Controls based on screening attendance history.
• Analysis of demographic, health, and motivational factors associated with attendance and non-attendance.

Main Results:

• First Controls were more likely to have a family history of cancer compared to First PNAs.
• PNAs were more likely to reside in rural areas and have higher education levels than controls.
• Key reasons for returning to screening included aging, remembering appointments, rescheduling availability, and increased health concerns; GP and peer recommendations were significant motivators.

Conclusions:

• Intermittent breast screening attenders do not align with the socio-demographic profiles of consistent non-attenders.
• General practitioner recommendations and word-of-mouth significantly influence women's return to screening programs.
• Fear and anxiety may act as facilitators, rather than inhibitors, for screening participation.