HOW TO REACH 70% RESPONSE RATE IN THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM IN CROATIA?

A mammography response rate exceeding 70% is one of the parameters for monitoring the success of a national breast cancer screening program (BCS). The aim was to explore the potential for improving the response rate in the BCS in Croatia, based on the accuracy of the invitation database and availability of mammography services. In this cross-sectional study, data from the fifth and sixth implementation cycles were collected through a questionnaire from the BCS county coordinators (N=21). The quality of the invitation database and the number of available mammography appointments were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel. Seventeen percent of women were not available at the address listed in the database and could not be invited for mammography, with variations observed across counties ranging from 31% (Lika-Senj County) to 7% (Krapina-Zagorje County). Only eight counties had a sufficient number of mammography appointments for initial and repeat invitations. With a higher estimate of unavailable women by counties at the end of the fifth cycle, the response rate at the end of the cycle was lower (^ρ=-0.51, p=0.018). In conclusion, participation in the BCS could be increased with a more accurate invitation database, thereby freeing up additional mammography appointments for both initial and repeat invitations.