A comparative study of re-attenders and non-re-attenders for second triennial National Breast Screening Programme appointments.

This study, funded by the National Breast Screening Programme, was undertaken in 1992 at the Helen Garrod Breast Screening Unit, Nottingham. In a sample of 400 women who attended first round screening in 1989 and remained eligible for screening 10 per cent failed to attend triennial recall. A sample of a further 400 women who had been screened previously containing 200 women who re-attended for second round screening and 200 who failed to re-attend were studied anonymously by questionnaire. No significant difference existed between re-attenders and non-re-attenders in their perceived personal risk of breast cancer. A significant difference existed between the two groups in (1) their knowledge of breast cancer, (2) their ease of attending for screening, and (3) their previous experience of breast screening. Half of the women who failed to return implicated their initial visit in this decision--41 per cent implicating pain, 6 per cent stress and 3 per cent embarrassment. Hence a small percentage (5 per cent) of women do not re-attend for screening because of a negative experience at their initial visit. Every effort should therefore be made to make screening as acceptable as possible.