Older women's attitudes towards breast disease, self examination, and screening facilities: implications for communication.

Qualitative research techniques were used in two studies in Edinburgh to explore older women's attitudes and motivations towards breast disease, self examination, and screening, with a view to identifying appropriate strategies for communication. The results indicated that knowledge of breast disease and screening facilities was poor and that many psychological and emotional issues inhibited self examination. Increasing information about self examination and clinics is unlikely to influence uptake unless it is presented together with emotional support rather than through conventional mass media channels. Such support may best be provided by setting breast screening within general health screening rather than emphasising the single disease.