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Does Pink October really impact breast cancer screening?
Marcelo Antonini1,2, Denise Joffily Pereira da Costa Pinheiro1, Gisela Rosa Franco Salerno3
1Hospital do Servido Público Estadual - Francisco Morato Oliveira (HSPE-FMO), São Paulo, Brazil.
Public Health in Practice (Oxford, England)
|December 26, 2022
Summary
The Pink October Campaign significantly boosts mammographic screening rates in Brazil for three months post-event. To sustain this, consider year-round screening initiatives for breast cancer detection.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Oncology
- Health Campaigns
Background:
- Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in women globally.
- Early detection through mammographic screening significantly improves patient outcomes.
- The Pink October Campaign is a widely recognized initiative to raise awareness for breast cancer detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Pink October Campaign on mammographic screening rates in Brazil.
- To analyze screening trends in relation to the campaign's timing.
- To identify potential strategies for enhancing breast cancer screening participation.
Main Methods:
- Ecological observational study utilizing retrospective data from the Brazilian national screening database (DATASUS/SISMAMA).
- Analysis of mammogram screening numbers from January 2017 to December 2021.
- Statistical comparison of screening rates across different months, age groups, and regions using ANOVA and post-Tukey tests.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in mammograms performed was observed in October and the two subsequent months (33%, 39%, 22% increase).
- Screening numbers in other months remained below the monthly average.
- No significant differences in screening increases were found across age groups or Brazilian regions.
Conclusions:
- The Pink October Campaign demonstrably increases mammographic screening in the immediate months following its occurrence.
- To maximize screening benefits, continuous awareness and screening efforts throughout the year are recommended, rather than concentrating solely in October.
- Sustained public health interventions may be crucial for long-term improvements in breast cancer early detection rates.
