OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the time of last screening mammography as well as frequency of regular mammography examinations in Polish female population aged 45 to 54. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study, conducted in April 2004, included Polish nation-wide representative random sample of 1083 women. The study was adjusted for controllable variables including age, type and size of place of residence, province. RESULTS: As few as 47% of women underwent screening mammography during the last three years. Mammography was performed significantly more often in big city dwellers than in women from small/moderate towns and villages (64% versus 43% and 40%, respectively). Mammography had never been performed in 39% of women including every other woman with primary/vocational education, every third woman with secondary education and every fourth woman with university education. Mammography is repeated on regular basis every 12-18 months in 19% of women. Older women (50-54 years old) are significantly more numerous--24% in this group than younger ones (45-49 years old)--15%. Amongst regular mammography users there are more big city dwellers--34% versus women from small/moderate towns--16% and from villages--14%, as well as there are more women with higher education level--women with university education constitute 30% of this group versus 23% of women with secondary education and 11% of women with primary/vocational education. Current and past users of hormonal replacement therapy, as well as women who are going to use HRT in the future significantly more often attend screening examinations. CONCLUSION: There is a strong need for development and implementation of a screening mammography program. National guidelines concerning the age of the first screening mammography and recommended frequency of mammography examinations during subsequent decades of woman's life should be developed. Educational campaigns are needed that would be designed not to frighten the women but to encourage them for regular use of screening mammography and to make them aware of the huge role mammography plays in detecting early stages of breast cancer and reducing women's mortality.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the time of last screening mammography as well as frequency of regular mammography examinations in Polish female population aged 45 to 54. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study, conducted in April 2004, included Polish nation-wide representative random sample of 1083 women. The study was adjusted for controllable variables including age, type and size of place of residence, province. RESULTS: As few as 47% of women underwent screening mammography during the last three years. Mammography was performed significantly more often in big city dwellers than in women from small/moderate towns and villages (64% versus 43% and 40%, respectively). Mammography had never been performed in 39% of women including every other woman with primary/vocational education, every third woman with secondary education and every fourth woman with university education. Mammography is repeated on regular basis every 12-18 months in 19% of women. Older women (50-54 years old) are significantly more numerous--24% in this group than younger ones (45-49 years old)--15%. Amongst regular mammography users there are more big city dwellers--34% versus women from small/moderate towns--16% and from villages--14%, as well as there are more women with higher education level--women with university education constitute 30% of this group versus 23% of women with secondary education and 11% of women with primary/vocational education. Current and past users of hormonal replacement therapy, as well as women who are going to use HRT in the future significantly more often attend screening examinations. CONCLUSION: There is a strong need for development and implementation of a screening mammography program. National guidelines concerning the age of the first screening mammography and recommended frequency of mammography examinations during subsequent decades of woman's life should be developed. Educational campaigns are needed that would be designed not to frighten the women but to encourage them for regular use of screening mammography and to make them aware of the huge role mammography plays in detecting early stages of breast cancer and reducing women's mortality.