Screening Mammography: Reasons for non-compliance in a family medicine teaching unit.

In a telephone survey of patients aged 52 to 62 years in a family medicine teaching unit, 61% reported having had mammography within the last 2 years (1988 or later); for 49% of the patients, this was documented in the hospital record. The main reason given for non-compliance was the absence of breast symptoms or signs. Patient willingness to follow physician recommendations is high, emphasizing the importance of physician compliance with screening guidelines.