N Duport1. 1. Département des maladies chroniques et des traumatismes, Institut de veille sanitaire (InVS), 12, rue du Val-d'Osne, 94415 Saint-Maurice cedex, France. n.duport@invs.sante.fr
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed at (i) estimating the 2-year self-reported breast cancer screening coverage rate; and (ii) analyzing the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and healthcare access of women and breast cancer screening (opportunistic or organized) practices. METHODS: From a 2006 French health survey, 2056 women aged 50 to 74 years were selected and divided into three groups according to their breast cancer screening practices during the previous 2 years: organized screening, opportunistic screening, or no screening. The three groups were compared according to self-reported sociodemographic status, healthcare access, screening behaviors, and perceived health, using polytomic regression. RESULTS: The 2-year self-reported coverage rate was 75.8%. It was high among women aged 50 to 69 years and lower among older women. Questions relating to medical access (i.e. having consulted a GP in the last 12 months, having consulted a gynecologist in the last 12 months, and having had a Pap smear in the last 3 years) were the variables most commonly associated with a recent mammogram. Women having a regular follow-up by a gynecologist or having had cervical cancer screening within the last three years used organized breast cancer screening more often and used opportunistic breast cancer screening even more often than other women. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the key role of gynecologists and general practitioners in encouraging women to have a mammogram. Awareness among healthcare professionals and women of the benefits of organized breast cancer screening compared to opportunistic screening should be sustained and strengthened.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed at (i) estimating the 2-year self-reported breast cancer screening coverage rate; and (ii) analyzing the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and healthcare access of women and breast cancer screening (opportunistic or organized) practices. METHODS: From a 2006 French health survey, 2056 women aged 50 to 74 years were selected and divided into three groups according to their breast cancer screening practices during the previous 2 years: organized screening, opportunistic screening, or no screening. The three groups were compared according to self-reported sociodemographic status, healthcare access, screening behaviors, and perceived health, using polytomic regression. RESULTS: The 2-year self-reported coverage rate was 75.8%. It was high among women aged 50 to 69 years and lower among older women. Questions relating to medical access (i.e. having consulted a GP in the last 12 months, having consulted a gynecologist in the last 12 months, and having had a Pap smear in the last 3 years) were the variables most commonly associated with a recent mammogram. Women having a regular follow-up by a gynecologist or having had cervical cancer screening within the last three years used organized breast cancer screening more often and used opportunistic breast cancer screening even more often than other women. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the key role of gynecologists and general practitioners in encouraging women to have a mammogram. Awareness among healthcare professionals and women of the benefits of organized breast cancer screening compared to opportunistic screening should be sustained and strengthened.