Do socio-demographic factors influence mammography use of French women? Analysis of a French cross-sectional survey

Inequality in mammography uptake: results from recruitment phase of first cohort study among Iranian Kurdish population

Background

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Mammography is the best and the most available diagnostic method for breast cancer early detection. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and inequality in the mammography uptake among Kurdish women in the west of Iran.

Methods

This cohort study was conducted using data extracted from the Ravansar Non-communicable Cohort Study among Kurdish women in the west of Iran from 2014 to 2018. The sample included 5289 women aged 35–65 years. The relative and generalized (absolute) concentration index (RC and GC, respectively) was used to quantify and decompose socioeconomic inequalities in mammography uptake.

Results

Overall concentration index for mammography was 0.2107, indicating that the mammography uptake concentration was greater in women with a higher socioeconomic status (SES). The predictor variables accounted for 44.6% of the inequality in the mammography uptake. Higher SES, living in urban areas, and age group of 51–55 years old increased the chance of having a mammogram. Available evidence supports the inequality of mammography uptake in favor of women with higher SES.

Conclusions

Cost-free screening services for low SES women, and the development of breast cancer prevention campaigns focusing on disadvantaged women could have an important role in mammography uptake and in the reduction of inequalities.

Social determinants of mammography screening among women aged 50 to 59, Peru 2015

Breast cancer (BC) screening could reduce its mortality; however, its access is influenced by societal forces. Our objective is to identify the social determinants associated with mammography screening (MS) in women aged 50 to 59 in Peru. In this cross-sectional analysis of the Peruvian Demographic Health Survey, 2015, MS within the past two years was evaluated through self-report. Prevalence for MS was 21.9% [95% CI: 18.9 to 25.1]. The average age was 54 years (s.d.: 2.5). The higher the socioeconomic status, the higher the prevalence of screening (3.2% vs 41.4% in extreme quintiles, p < .001). In the adjusted models, higher socioeconomic status (PR: 5.81, 95% CI: 2.28 to 14.79), higher education level (PR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.30 a 3,15) and having health insurance from the Ministry of Health (PR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.28 to 3.82) and EsSalud (PR: 4.37, 95% CI: 2.67 to 7.15), were positively associated with MS. Social inequalities in screening access exist and might translate into inequalities in cancer morbidity and mortality. The Peruvian government urgently needs to improve screening rates in these vulnerable populations.

The impact of regional screening policies on the diffusion of cancer screening participation in Belgium: time trends in educational inequalities in Flanders and Wallonia

BACKGROUND

We investigate whether the extent of educational inequalities in the use of Pap smears (cervical cancer screening) and mammograms (breast cancer screening) in Belgium has changed over time in accordance with the pattern predicted by diffusion of innovation theory, as well as how the regional cancer screening policies of Flanders and Wallonia influence this pattern.

METHODS

Data were obtained from five successive cross-sectional waves (1997-2001-2004-2008-2013) of the Belgian Health Interview Survey. Final sample sizes consisted of 8988 women aged 25-64 years for cervical cancer screening and 4194 women aged 50-69 years for breast cancer screening. We calculated absolute and relative measures of inequality, more specifically, the slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative index of inequality (RII), and their development over time.

RESULTS

In both Flanders and Wallonia, mammogram use increased greatly between 1997 and 2013, while Pap smear use has remained quite stable over time. Educational inequalities in cervical-cancer screening have been largely persistent over time in both regions. In contrast, educational inequalities in breast cancer screening fluctuated more between 1997 and 2013. Between 1997 and 2001, when the breast cancer screening programme was implemented in Flanders, RII reduced significantly by 45%. Inequality measures did not change significantly in Wallonia, where it is known that most women are screened opportunistically outside the programme.

CONCLUSIONS

By focussing on Belgium, this study demonstrates that regional variations in the support of a national screening programme can result in regional variations in the pattern of diffusion for cancer screening, as well as to the development of inequalities in cancer screening participation. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that high visibility and awareness of the screening programme, as was more the case in Flanders than it was in Wallonia, are required in order to reduce or eliminate educational inequalities in cancer screening participation over time. General practitioners and gynaecologists can play a decisive role in this regard.

Breast cancer screening programme participation and socioeconomic deprivation in France

The objective was to quantify the relationship between deprivation and national breast cancer screening programme (NBCSP) participation at an ecological level in mainland France. Data from 4,805,390 women-living in 36,209 municipalities within 95 departments-participating in the 2013-2014 NBCSP were analysed using the French Deprivation Index (FDep). FDep population quintiles by municipality were computed to describe NBCSP participation according to deprivation. To better examine the relationship between continuous value of deprivation index and participation rates at the municipality level, we built a generalized linear mixed model. Geographical variations in participation rates were marked. The national standardized participation rate was higher in the intermediate quintiles (55%), 45% for the least deprived one and 52% for the most deprived one. Using our model, we also obtained an inverted U-curve for the relationship between NBCSP participation and municipality deprivation: participation was lower for both the least and most deprived municipalities. This relationship was also observed for each of the two subpopulations-urban municipalities and rural ones-considered separately. Introducing the FDep in the model reduced slightly the unexplained variations in participation rates between departments and between municipalities (with a proportional change in variance of 14% and 12% respectively). We highlight major disparities in departmental participation rates and FDep/participation profiles. However, deprivation appears to have only little influence on geographical variation in participation rates. There is a need to further understand the factors affecting geographical variation in participation rates, in particular the use of opportunistic screening.

Women's Benefits and Harms Trade-Offs in Breast Cancer Screening: Results from a Discrete-Choice Experiment

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, the benefits and harms balance of breast cancer (BC) screening has been widely debated.

OBJECTIVES

To elicit women's trade-offs between the benefits and harms of BC screening and to analyze the main determinants of these trade-offs.

METHODS

A discrete-choice experiment with seven attributes depicting BC screening programs including varying levels of BC mortality, overdiagnosis, and false-positive result was used. Eight hundred twelve women aged 40 to 74 years with no personal history of BC recruited by a survey institute and representative of the French general population (age, socioeconomic level, and geographical location) completed the discrete-choice experiment. Preference heterogeneity was investigated using generalized multinomial logit models from which individual trade-offs were derived, and their main determinants were assessed using generalized linear models. Screening acceptance rates under various benefits and harms ratios were simulated on the basis of the distribution of individual preferences.

RESULTS

The women would be willing to accept on average 14.1 overdiagnosis cases (median = 9.6) and 47.8 false-positive results (median = 27.2) to avoid one BC-related death. After accounting for preference heterogeneity, less than 50% of women would be willing to accept 10 overdiagnosis cases for one BC-related death avoided. Screening acceptance rates were higher among women with higher socioeconomic level and lower among women with poor health.

CONCLUSIONS

Women are sensitive to both the benefits and the harms of BC screening and their preferences are highly heterogeneous. Our study provides useful results for public health authorities and clinicians willing to improve their recommendations of BC screening on the basis of women's preferences.

Introduction of an organised programme and social inequalities in mammography screening: A 22-year population-based study in Geneva, Switzerland

In developed countries, breast cancer mortality has decreased during the last decades due to, at least partially, the advent of mammography screening. Organised programmes aim, among other objectives, to increase participation and decrease social inequalities in screening access. We aimed to characterise the evolution of socioeconomic disparities in mammography screening before and after the implementation of an organised programme in Geneva, Switzerland. We included 5345 women, aged 50-74years, without past history of breast cancer who participated in the cross-sectional Bus Santé study, between 1992 and 2014. Outcome measures were: 1) never had a mammography (1992-2014) and 2) never had a mammography or not screened in the two years before being surveyed (subgroup analysis, 2007-2014). Educational attainment was divided in three groups (primary, secondary and tertiary) and period in two (before/after introduction of a screening programme in 1999). We calculated measures of relative and absolute change, including the relative (RII) and slope (SII) indices of social inequality adjusted for age and nationality. We compared the prevalence of screening before and after screening programme implementation using Poisson models. The proportion of unscreened women decreased during the study period from 30.5% to 3.6%. Lower educated women were more frequently unscreened (RII=2.39, p<0.001; SII=0.10, p<0.001). Organised screening decreased the proportion of unscreened women independently of education (prevalence ratio_{before vs. after}=4.41, p<0.001), but absolute and relative inequalities persisted (RII=2.11, p=0.01; SII=0.04, p=0.01). Introduction of an organised programme increased women's adherence to mammography screening but did not eliminate social disparities in screening participation.

Impact assessment of a pay-for-performance program on breast cancer screening in France using micro data

BACKGROUND

A voluntary-based pay-for-performance (P4P) program (the CAPI) aimed at general practitioners (GPs) was implemented in France in 2009. The program targeted prevention practices, including breast cancer screening, by offering a maximal amount of €245 for achieving a target screening rate among eligible women enrolled with the GP.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate the impact of the French P4P program (CAPI) on the early detection of breast cancer among women between 50 and 74 years old.

METHODS

Based on an administrative database of 50,752 women aged 50-74 years followed between 2007 and 2011, we estimated a difference-in-difference model of breast cancer screening uptake as a function of visit to a CAPI signatory referral GP, while controlling for both supply-side and demand-side determinants (e.g., sociodemographics, health and healthcare use).

RESULTS

Breast cancer screening rates have not changed significantly since the P4P program implementation. Overall, visiting a CAPI signatory referral GP at least once in the pre-CAPI period increased the probability of undergoing breast cancer screening by 1.38 % [95 % CI (0.41-2.35 %)], but the effect was not significantly different following the implementation of the contract.

CONCLUSION

The French P4P program had a nonsignificant impact on breast cancer screening uptake. This result may reflect the fact that the low-powered incentives implemented in France through the CAPI might not provide sufficient leverage to generate better practices, thus inviting regulators to seek additional tools beyond P4P in the field of prevention and screening.

Life-course socioeconomic status and breast and cervical cancer screening: analysis of the WHO's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE)

OBJECTIVES

Socioeconomic differences in screening have been well documented in upper-income countries; however, few studies have examined socioeconomic status (SES) over the life-course in relation to cancer screening in lower-income and middle-income countries. Here, we examine individual, parental and life-course SES differences in breast and cervical cancer screening among women in India, China, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.

SETTING

Data from the WHO's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) 2007-2008 data were used for survey-weighted multivariable regression analysis. We examined the association between individual, parental and life-course SES in relation to breast and cervical cancer screening using education-based and employment-based measures of SES.

PARTICIPANTS

22 283 women aged 18-65 years, recruited from China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.

RESULTS

Having a college degree (OR 4.18; 95% CI 2.36 to 7.40) increased the odds of breast cancer screening compared with no formal education. Women with higher parental SES were almost 10 times more likely to receive breast cancer screening (OR 9.84; 95% CI 1.75 to 55.5) compared with women with low parental SES. Stable higher life-course (OR 3.07; 95% CI 1.96 to 4.79) increased breast cancer screening by threefold and increased cervical cancer screening by more than fourfold (OR 4.35; 95% CI 2.94 to 6.45); however, declining life-course SES was associated with reduced breast cancer screening (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.79) compared to low life-course SES.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher individual, parental and life-course SES was positively associated with breast and cervical cancer screening, although education-based SES measures were stronger predictors of screening compared with employment-based measures. Improving knowledge of the benefits of cancer screening and integrating cancer screening into routine healthcare practice for low SES women are actionable strategies that may significantly improve screening rates in low-income and middle-income countries.

Breast cancer screening attendance in two Swiss regions dominated by opportunistic or organized screening

BACKGROUND

In Switzerland, the French-speaking region has an organized breast cancer (BC) screening program; in the German-speaking region, only opportunistic screening until recently had been offered. We evaluated factors associated with attendance to breast cancer screening in these two regions.

METHODS

We analyzed the data of 50-69 year-old women (n = 2769) from the Swiss Health Survey 2012. Factors of interest included education level, place of residence, nationality, marital status, smoking history, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet, self-perceived health, history of chronic diseases and mental distress, visits to medical doctors and cervical and colorectal cancer screening. Outcome measures were dichotomized into ≤2 years since most recent mammography versus >2 years or never.

RESULTS

In the German- and French-speaking regions, mammography attendance within the last two years was 34.9 % and 77.8 %, respectively. In the French region, moderate alcohol consumption (adjusted OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.28-3.15) increased screening attendance. Compared to those with no visit to a physician during the recent year, women in both regions with such visits attended statistically significantly more often BC screening (1-5 times vs. no visit: German (adjusted OR 3.96, 95 % CI 2.58-6.09); French: OR 7.25, 95 % CI 4.04-13.01). Non-attendance to cervical screening had a negative effect in both the German (adjusted OR 0.44, 95 % CI 0.25-0.79) and the French region (adjusted OR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.35-0.91). The same was true for colorectal cancer screening (German (adjusted OR 0.66, 95 % CI 0.52-0.84); French: OR 0.52, 95 % CI 0.33-0.83). No other factor was associated with BC screening and none of the tests of interaction comparing the two regions revealed statistically significant results.

CONCLUSION

The effect of socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, health factors and screening behavior other than mammography on non-attendance to BC screening did not differ between the two regions with mainly opportunistic and organized screening, respectively, and did not explain the large differences in attendance between regions. Other potential explanations such as public promotion of attendance for BC screening, physicians' recommendations regarding mammography participation or women's beliefs should be further investigated.

A cross-national comparative study on the influence of individual life course factors on mammography screening

OBJECTIVES

Drawing on insights from the life course perspective, the aim of this paper is to gain a better understanding of persistent socioeconomic inequalities related to the uptake of mammography screening in 13 European countries. We examine whether these inequalities originate in childhood and relate them to the history and progression of each country's screening programs.

METHODS

Retrospective data from the third wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARELIFE) is analyzed by means of event-history analyses to examine the role of childhood preventive health behavior on mammography screening initiation. The results are framed within the context of policy developments concerning mammography screening in each of the separate European countries.

RESULTS

Childhood preventive health care behavior predicts mammography screening in 9 of the 13 countries after conventional measurements of socioeconomic position in childhood and adulthood are accounted for. Net effects of education and income are still found for respectively 6 and 7 countries, but in about half of these countries national screening programs are able to reduce the social gradient. Very strong cohort and period effects are found for every country.

CONCLUSIONS

In a substantial number of the European countries, socioeconomic inequalities in preventive health behavior originate in childhood, which point to the deeply rooted nature of these inequalities. A long-term perspective is essential to further unravel how health policies can reduce or eliminate these persistent inequalities.

[Breast cancer screening in thirteen French departments]

BACKGROUND

In France, breast cancer screening programme, free of charge for women aged 50-74 years old, coexists with an opportunistic screening and leads to reduction in attendance in the programme. Here, we reported participation in organized and/or opportunistic screening in thirteen French departments.

POPULATION AND METHODS

We analyzed screening data (organized and/or opportunistic) of 622,382 women aged 51-74 years old invited to perform an organized mammography screening session from 2010 to 2011 in the thirteen French departments. The type of mammography screening performed has been reported according to women age, their health insurance scheme, the rurality and the socioeconomic level of their area or residence. We also represented the tertiles of deprivation and participation in mammography screening for each department.

RESULTS

A total of 390,831 (62.8%) women performed a mammography screening (organized and/or opportunistic) after the invitation. These women were mainly aged from 55-69 years old, insured by the general insurance scheme and lived in urban, semi-urban or affluent areas.

CONCLUSION

The participation in mammography screening (organized and opportunistic) in France remains below the target rate of 70% expected by health authorities to reduce breast cancer mortality through screening.

Reconsidering inequalities in preventive health care: an application of cultural health capital theory and the life-course perspective to the take-up of mammography screening

While there are abundant descriptions of socioeconomic inequalities in preventive health care, knowledge about the true mechanisms is still lacking. Recently, the role of cultural health capital in preventive health-care inequalities has been discussed theoretically. Given substantial analogies, we explore how our understanding of cultural health capital and preventive health-care inequalities can be advanced by applying the theoretical principles and methodology of the life-course perspective. By means of event history analysis and retrospective data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement, we examine the role of cultural capital and cultural health capital during childhood on the timely initiation of mammography screening in Belgium (N = 1348). In line with cumulative disadvantage theory, the results show that childhood cultural conditions are independently associated with mammography screening, even after childhood and adulthood socioeconomic position and health are controlled for. Lingering effects from childhood are suggested by the accumulation of cultural health capital that starts early in life. Inequalities in the take-up of screening are manifested as a lower probability of ever having a mammogram, rather than in the late initiation of screening.

Obstacles to the uptake of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings: what remains to be achieved by French national programmes?

BACKGROUND

In France, equality in access to screening has been one of the main thrusts of public policies implemented between 2009 and 2013 (the national cancer plan). Our aim in this study was to analyse the obstacles to and levers for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening uptake and their trends over time.

METHODS

Based on representative data from the French Health Care and Health Insurance Survey (three independent, cross-sectional surveys: 2006, 2008, and 2010), multivariate logistic regressions were used to model the association between the nonuse of screening for the three cancers and various independent variables. Then, interactions with survey year dummies allowed the changes in the determinants of these cancer screenings over time to be estimated.

RESULTS

Whereas the incentives for screening were strengthened during the period considered, cervical and breast cancer screenings decreased, and colorectal cancer screenings increased sharply (from 18.2% (95% CI = [17.0-19.4]) in 2006 to 38.9% (95% CI = [37.4-40.5] in 2010. Under-users of the three cancer screenings were primarily unskilled workers (ORcervix = 1.64 [1.38-1.95]), individuals without complementary health insurance (ORbreast = 2.05 [1.68-2.51]), or individuals with free complementary health insurance who more rarely use outpatient care. Moreover, individuals reporting either risky behaviours, namely heavy smokers (ORcolorectal = 1.70) and high-risk drinkers (ORcervix = 1.42) or very safe behaviours, namely neither smoking nor drinking, underused screenings. Despite the implementation of national programmes for breast and colorectal cancer screenings, the disparities and inequalities in screening uptake did not decrease over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate the need for additional primary prevention efforts targeting the identified under-users by focusing on, for instance, individuals with a very healthy lifestyle. Health authorities could also intensify their efforts to promote increased access to screening for the most disadvantaged individuals.

Age differences in mammography screening reconsidered: life course trajectories in 13 European countries

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality among European women. To reduce mortality risk, early detection through mammography screening is recommended from the age of 50 years onwards. Although timely initiation is crucial for cancer prognosis, the temporal dimension has largely been ignored in research. In cross-sectional research designs, it is not clear whether reported age differences reflect 'true' age effects and/or presumed period effects resulting from evolving knowledge and screening programmes.

METHODS

We use longitudinal data from the survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARELIFE, 2008), which enables to cast light on age differences by providing retrospective information on the age at which women commenced regular mammography screening. Moreover, the cross-national dimension of the SHARE permits framing the results within the context of nationally implemented screening programmes. By means of the Kaplan-Meier procedure, we examine age trajectories for five 10-year birth cohorts in 13 European countries (n = 13 324).

RESULTS

Birth cohorts show very similar age trajectories for each country. Along with the observation that large country differences and country-specific deviations coincide with screening programme characteristics, this suggests strong period effects related to implemented national screening programmes.

CONCLUSION

Age differences in mammography screening generally reflect the period effects of national screening policies. This leaves little room for economic theories about human health capital that leave out the institutional context of preventive health care provision.

To what extent is women's economic situation associated with cancer screening uptake when nationwide screening exists? A study of breast and cervical cancer screening in France in 2010

PURPOSE

In France, larger social inequalities are reported for cervical cancer screening, based on individual practice, than for breast cancer screening for which organized screening exists. Our aim was to investigate the association between women's economic situation and breast and cervical cancer screening.

METHODS

We used data from a large French national health survey conducted in 2010. The economic situation was assessed using the number of adverse economic conditions respondents were facing, based on three variables (low income, lacking food, and perceived financial difficulties). Logistic regressions were adjusted for socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare use and insurance, and health behaviors.

RESULTS

Mammography was less frequent among women experiencing two or more adverse economic conditions, whereas Pap smear was less frequent among women experiencing at least one adverse economic condition. For both screenings, higher rates were observed among women who lived in the Paris region. Sociodemographic indicators and health behaviors were associated with Pap smear, whereas healthcare use and insurance characteristics were associated with mammography.

CONCLUSIONS

The women's economic situation is an important determinant of breast and cervical cancer screening in France in 2010. Alleviating economic barriers to female cancers screening should be a priority in future programs implementation.

Patient navigation pathway and barriers to treatment seeking in cancer in India: a qualitative inquiry

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer may curb the growing burden of the disease. Understanding cancer patients' navigation pathways for seeking treatment is important in order to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. With this background we conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study comprising 68 randomly selected cancer inpatients in a tertiary cancer specialty hospital in Odisha, India, to explore the treatment-seeking pathways of the cancer patients and the barriers and enablers in seeking treatment. Financial constraint is one of the major reasons for the delay in accessing treatment, even when patients are suspected of or diagnosed with cancer. Low awareness of the presenting signs and symptoms of cancer and limited knowledge of the availability of cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities are major factors contributing to delay. Family and friends' support is found to be the major enabling factor toward seeking treatment. Generation of awareness of cancer among the general population and primary-care practitioners - including those in alternative systems of medicine - is important. Information on diagnostic and treatment services appears to be a felt need.

Socio-economic and health access determinants of breast and cervical cancer screening in low-income countries: analysis of the World Health Survey

Background

Breast and Cervical cancer are the two most common cancers among women in developing countries. Regular screening is the most effective way of ensuring that these cancers are detected at early stages; however few studies have assessed factors that predict cancer screening in developing countries.

Purpose

To assess the influence of household socio-economic status (SES), healthcare access and country level characteristics on breast and cervical cancer screening among women in developing countries.

Methods

Women ages 18–69 years (cervical cancer screening) and 40–69 years (breast cancer screening) from 15 developing countries who participated in the 2003 World Health Survey provided data for this study. Household SES and healthcare access was assessed based on self-reported survey responses. SAS survey procedures (SAS, Version 9.2) were used to assess determinants of breast and cervical cancer screening in separate models.

Results

4.1% of women ages 18–69 years had received cervical cancer screening in the past three years, while only 2.2% of women ages 40–69 years had received breast cancer screening in the past 5 years in developing countries. Cancer screening rates varied by country; cervical cancer screening ranged from 1.1% in Bangladesh to 57.6% in Congo and breast cancer screening ranged from 0% in Mali to 26% in Congo. Significant determinants of cancer screening were household SES, rural residence, country health expenditure (as a percent of GDP) as well as healthcare access.

Discussion

A lot more needs to be done to improve screening rates for breast and cervical cancer in developing countries, such as increasing health expenditure (especially in rural areas), applying the increased funds towards the provision of more, better educated health providers as well as improved infrastructure.

Socioeconomic disparities in the uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening in Italy: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Breast and cervical cancer screening are widely recognized as effective preventive procedures in reducing cancer mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic disparities in the uptake of female screening in Italy, with a specific focus on different types of screening programs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2004-2005 national health interview survey. A sample of 15, 486 women aged 50-69 years for mammography and one of 35, 349 women aged 25-64 years for Pap smear were analysed. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between socioeconomic factors and female screening utilization.

RESULTS

Education and occupation were positively associated with attendance to both screening. Women with higher levels of education were more likely to have a mammogram than those with a lower level (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.10-1.49). Women of intermediate and high occupational classes were more likely to use breast cancer screening (OR = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.55-2.03, OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.40-1.91) compared to unemployed women. Women in the highest occupational class had a higher likelihood of cervical cancer screening compared to those in the lowest class (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.63-2.01). Among women who attended screening, those with lower levels of education and lower occupational classes were more likely than more advantaged women to attend organized screening programs rather than being screened on the basis of their own initiative.

CONCLUSIONS

Inequalities in the uptake of female screening widely exist in Italy. Organized screening programs may have an important role in increasing screening attendance and tackling inequalities.

Variations in preventive care utilisation in Europe

Prevention has been identified as an effective strategy to lead healthy, active and independent lives in old age. Developing effective prevention programs requires understanding the influence of both individual and health system level factors on utilisation of specific services. This study examines the variations in utilisation of preventive services by the population aged 50 and over in 14 European countries, pooling data from the two waves of Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe and the British Household Panel Survey. The models used allow for the impact of individual level demand-side characteristics and supply-side health systems features to be separately identified. The analysis shows significant variations in preventive care utilisation both within and across European countries. In all countries, controlling for individual health status and country-level systemic differences, higher educated and higher income groups use more preventive services. At the health system level, high public health expenditures and high GP density is associated with a high level of preventive care use, but specialist density does not appear to have any effect. Moreover, payment schemes for GPs and specialists appear to significantly affect the incentives to provide preventive health care. In systems where doctors are paid by fee-for-service the utilisation of all health services, including cancer screening, are higher.

Disparities in survival of stomach cancer among different socioeconomic groups in North-East Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Survival differences in stomach cancer are depended on patient, tumour and treatment factors. Some populations are more prone to develop stomach cancer, such as people with low socioeconomic status (SES). The aim of this population based study was to assess whether differences in socioeconomic status (SES) alone, after adjusting for confounding factors, also influence survival.

METHODS

From 1989 to 2007 all patients with stomach cancer were selected from the cancer registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre North-East. Postal code at diagnosis was used to determine SES, dividing patients in three groups; low, intermediate and high SES. Associations between age, localization, grade, stage, and treatment were determined using Chi-square analysis. Relative survival analysis was used to estimate relative excess risk (RER) of dying according to SES.

RESULTS

In low SES neighbourhoods diagnosis was established at older age. More distal tumours were detected in patients with low SES, whereas pathology showed more poorly differentiated tumours in patients with high SES. Overall, more resections were performed in, and more chemotherapy was administrated to patients in high SES neighbourhoods. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of dying was lower for patients with high SES (RER 0.89, 95% Confidence Interval 0.81-0.98) compared to patients with low SES.

CONCLUSION

SES proved to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with stomach cancer.

Socioeconomic inequalities in attending the mass screening for breast cancer in the south of the Netherlands--associations with stage at diagnosis and survival

The associations of socioeconomic status (SES) and participation in the breast cancer screening program, as well as consequences for stage of disease and prognosis were studied in the Netherlands, where no financial barriers for participating or health care use exist. From 1998 to 2005, 1,067,952 invitations for biennial mammography were sent to women aged 50-75 in the region covered by the Eindhoven Cancer Registry. Screening attendance rates according to SES were calculated. Tumor stage and survival were studied according to SES group for patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1998 and 2006, whether screen-detected, interval carcinoma or not attended screening at all. Attendance rates were rather high: 79, 85 and 87% in women with low, intermediate and high SES (p < 0.001), respectively. Compared to the low SES group, odds ratios for attendance were 1.5 (95%CI:1.5-1.6) for the intermediate SES group and 1.8 (95%CI:1.7-1.8) for the high SES group. Moreover, women with low SES had an unfavorable tumor-node-metastasis stage compared to those with high SES. This was seen in non-attendees, among women with interval cancers and with screen-detected cancers. Among non-attendees and interval cancers, the socioeconomic survival disparities were largely explained by stage distribution (48 and 35%) and to a lesser degree by therapy (16 and 16%). Comorbidity explained most survival inequalities among screen-detected patients (23%). Despite the absence of financial barriers for participation in the Dutch mass-screening program, socioeconomic inequalities in attendance rates exist, and women with low SES had a significantly worse tumor stage and lower survival rate.

The contribution of risk factors to the higher incidence of invasive and in situ breast cancers in women with higher levels of education in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition

The authors investigated the role of known risk factors in educational differences in breast cancer incidence. Analyses were based on the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition and included 242,095 women, 433 cases of in situ breast cancer, and 4,469 cases of invasive breast cancer. Reproductive history (age at first full-term pregnancy and parity), exposure to endogenous and exogenous hormones, height, and health behaviors were accounted for in the analyses. Relative indices of inequality (RII) for education were estimated using Cox regression models. A higher risk of invasive breast cancer was found among women with higher levels of education (RII = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 1.37). This association was not observed among nulliparous women (RII = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.84, 1.52). Inequalities in breast cancer incidence decreased substantially after adjusting for reproductive history (RII = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.25), with most of the association being explained by age at first full-term pregnancy. Each other risk factor explained a small additional part of the inequalities in breast cancer incidence. Height accounted for most of the remaining differences in incidence. After adjusting for all known risk factors, the authors found no association between education level and risk of invasive breast cancer. Inequalities in incidence were more pronounced for in situ breast cancer, and those inequalities remained after adjustment for all known risk factors (RII = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.41), especially among nulliparous women.

Sociogeographical factors associated with participation in colorectal cancer screening

BACKGROUND/AIM

Sociodemographic factors associated with colorectal cancer screening participation have been extensively analysed although few, if any, studies have focused on regional/geographical factors as determinants of non-participation rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of individual and geographical determinants on the variable participation rates seen for colorectal cancer screening.

METHODS

The study population comprised 183,978 individuals in the first round of screening and 175,596 in the second round, all of whom were residents of the city of Marseille in France. The influence of age, gender and regional/geographical characteristics, such as proportion of migrants and property prices per square meter, on participation rates was assessed by multilevel analysis.

RESULTS

The participation rate was lower for men (0.85; 95% CI: 0.83-0.86), and higher for those aged 65-69 years. Univariate analysis showed that participation rates were significantly different across the 16 municipal districts of Marseille (range: 22.8-36.7%; OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.86-2.08). On multivariate analysis, having a higher proportion of migrants in the district population was still associated with lower participation (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95-0.97).

CONCLUSION

In addition to individual factors, regional/geographical factors appear to be relevant determinants of participation rates in urban colorectal cancer screening programs.

Cancer screening in a middle-aged general population: factors associated with practices and attitudes

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with cancer screening practices and with general attitudes toward cancer screening in a general population.

METHODS

Mailed survey of 30-60 year old residents of Geneva, Switzerland, that included questions about screening for five cancers (breast, cervix uteri, prostate, colon, skin) in the past 3 years, attitudes toward screening, health care use, preventive behaviours and socio-demographic characteristics. Cancer screening practice was dichotomised as having done at least one screening test in the past 3 years versus none.

RESULTS

The survey response rate was 49.3% (2301/4670). More women than men had had at least one cancer screening test in the past 3 years (83.2% vs 34.5%, p < 0.001). A majority of women had had a cervical smear (76.6%) and a mammography (age 30-49: 35.0%; age 50 and older: 90.3%); and 55.1% of men 50-60 years old had been screened for prostate cancer. Other factors associated with screening included older age, higher income, a doctor visit in the past 6 months, reporting a greater number of preventive behaviours and a positive attitude toward screening. Factors linked with positive attitudes included female gender, higher level of education, gainful employment, higher income, a doctor visit in the past 6 months and a personal history of cancer.

CONCLUSION

Attitudes play an important role in cancer screening practices among middle-aged adults in the general population, independent of demographic variables (age and sex) that determine in part screening recommendations. Negative attitudes were the most frequent among men and the most socio-economically disadvantaged. The moderate participation rate raises the possibility of selection bias.

[Factors related to non-participation in a breast cancer early detection program]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the causes of non-participation in a breast cancer early detection program for women in the northern area of Almería (Spain).

METHODS

We performed a case-control study. A sample of women included in a breast cancer early detection program between October 2002 and February 2004 was chosen. Participants were interviewed about family, sociodemographic and program-related variables (knowledge, accessibility, attitudes), family and personal history, and health status. Possible differences among women who attended the program and those who did not were analyzed through bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 720 questionnaires were completed (350 cases and 370 controls) and 291 women (40.4% of the sample) were replaced. The variables found to be independently associated with non-participation in the program were as follows: not receiving a letter (OR=11.2; 95%CI: 4.6-26.9), undergoing mammography outside the program (OR=4.4; 95%CI: 2.8-6.9), not having illnesses requiring medical examinations (OR=2; 95%CI: 1.3-3), and expressing fear of the result of mammography (OR=1.8; 95%CI: 1.2-2.6).

CONCLUSIONS

Women who did not receive a letter or who underwent mammography outside the program had a greater risk of not attending the program, hence the need to improve the quality of the database. Awareness of the program should be increased among women and health education should be provided to women fearing the outcome.

Mammography screening: views from women and primary care physicians in Crete

Background

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and a leading cause of death from cancer in women in Europe. Although breast cancer incidence is on the rise worldwide, breast cancer mortality over the past 25 years has been stable or decreasing in some countries and a fall in breast cancer mortality rates in most European countries in the 1990s was reported by several studies, in contrast, in Greece have not reported these favourable trends. In Greece, the age-standardised incidence and mortality rate for breast cancer per 100.000 in 2006 was 81,8 and 21,7 and although it is lower than most other countries in Europe, the fall in breast cancer mortality that observed has not been as great as in other European countries. There is no national strategy for screening in this country. This study reports on the use of mammography among middle-aged women in rural Crete and investigates barriers to mammography screening encountered by women and their primary care physicians.

Methods

Design: Semi-structured individual interviews. Setting and participants: Thirty women between 45–65 years of age, with a mean age of 54,6 years, and standard deviation 6,8 from rural areas of Crete and 28 qualified primary care physicians, with a mean age of 44,7 years and standard deviation 7,0 serving this rural population. Main outcome measure: Qualitative thematic analysis.

Results

Most women identified several reasons for not using mammography. These included poor knowledge of the benefits and indications for mammography screening, fear of pain during the procedure, fear of a serious diagnosis, embarrassment, stress while anticipating the results, cost and lack of physician recommendation. Physicians identified difficulties in scheduling an appointment as one reason women did not use mammography and both women and physicians identified distance from the screening site, transportation problems and the absence of symptoms as reasons for non-use.

Conclusion

Women are inhibited from participating in mammography screening in rural Crete. The provision of more accessible screening services may improve this. However physician recommendation is important in overcoming women's inhibitions. Primary care physicians serving rural areas need to be aware of barriers preventing women from attending mammography screening and provide women with information and advice in a sensitive way so women can make informed decisions regarding breast caner screening.

[Which factors influence screening practices for female cancer in France?]

BACKGROUND

The two aims of the study were, first to estimate the declared two-year coverage of breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings, and second to determine the main factors influencing female cancer screening behaviors.

METHODS

Three groups of women from the 2003 French decennial health interview survey were analyzed: 3378 women aged 50-74 years who answered the question on mammography use, 7912 women aged 25-65 years who answered the question on Pap-smear use, and 2528 women aged 50-65 years who answered both questions.

RESULTS

The declared coverage of breast cancer screening was 71.2%, the declared coverage of cervical cancer screening was 76.3%. Almost 18% of women declared having undergone neither a mammography nor a Pap-smear in the last two years. The main factor linked to a more frequent practice of one or both cancer screenings (breast or cervix) was to have undergone recently the other screening. The other factors linked to mammography use were mainly healthcare and practitioner access variables. Those linked to Pap-smear use were mainly socioeconomic and socio-demographic variables, healthcare and practitioner access variables being also linked. The main factors linked to having undergone none of these two screenings were of financial nature, particularly household income and home ownership.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that it is appropriate to communicate on both screenings at the same time since they have a positive effect each other. Finally, practitioners continue to play a central role in collecting information on cancer screenings and encouraging screening in women not regularly screened.

Does educational level determine screening participation?

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that nonparticipation in organized mammography screening is due to insufficient understanding of the information in the invitation letter by relating educational level to user pattern. Data from two Danish mammography screening programmes in Copenhagen, 1991-1999, and Funen, 1993-2001 were taken for this study. The Danish Central Population Register was used to define target groups; screened participation data were provided by the health authority, and data on highest obtained education came from Statistics Denmark. Data on all breast imaging in 2000 outside organized screening were provided by radiology clinics. Included were all women eligible for at least three screens, and participation was classified into four mutually exclusive user groups. Organized mammography screening programmes in Copenhagen and Funen, Denmark were used as field of this study. Main outcome measures were age-adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 'never use' versus 'always use' of screening by educational level, using women with secretarial/sales education as baseline. The RR of 'never use' was 1.65 (95% CI: 1.37-1.99) in Copenhagen and 1.93 (95% CI: 1.42-2.62) in Funen for academics, 1.60 (95% CI: 1.48-1.73) in Copenhagen and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.14-1.39) Funen for women with lower primary educational level. Taking other breast imaging into account, the RR was 1.60 (95% CI: 1.32-1.95) for academics in Copenhagen, and 1.90 (95% CI: 1.75-2.07) for women with lower primary education. In conclusion, our results did not support the hypothesis that lack of understanding the information in the invitation letter explains nonparticipation. 'Never use' was not inversely associated with the level of education, but showed a U-shaped association, even when use of breast imaging outside organized screening was taken into account.

Are breast cancer screening practices associated with sociodemographic status and healthcare access? Analysis of a French cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to analyse the role of women's sociodemographic and healthcare access characteristics according to breast cancer screening practices (organized, individual or no screening). A cross-sectional study was set up in seven French districts using a self-administered postal questionnaire. Randomization was stratified proportionally on age and urban/rural status in each district separately among attendees and nonattendees to the organized breast cancer screening programme (OS). A total of 5638 women aged 50-74 years returned their questionnaires: 1480 in the attendee OS group and 4158 in the nonattendee group. Among them, 3537 declared having undergone a recent mammography outside the organized programme (individual, IS group) and 621 declared never having undergone a mammography or having done so more than 2 years ago (NS group). Analyses showed a gradient between the three groups (IS, OS and NS, respectively) in their association with breast cancer screening practices considering three factors: an increasing gradient was observed for renunciation of basic healthcare for financial reasons, a decreasing gradient in the regular visit to a medical gynaecologist and having had a Pap smear in the last 3 years. Three other variables that showed a decreasing gradient are: living with a partner, current use of hormone replacement therapy and having had a check-up in the last 5 years. In conclusion, the main differences between breast cancer screening practices were largely associated with difficulties in healthcare access, considering regular gynaecological visits in particular.

Socio-demographic determinants of participation in mammography screening

Our objective was to use individual data on socio-demographic characteristics to identify predictors of participation in mammography screening and control to what extent they can explain the regional difference. We used data from mammography screening programmes in Copenhagen, 1991-1999, and Funen, 1993-2001, Denmark. Target groups were identified from the Population Register, screening data came from the health authority, and socio-demographic data from Statistics Denmark. Included were women eligible for at least 3 screens. The crude RR of never use versus always use was 3.21 (95%CI, 3.07-3.35) for Copenhagen versus Funen, and the adjusted RR was 2.55 (95%CI, 2.43-2.67). The adjusted RR for never use among women without contact to a primary care physician was 2.50 (95% CI, 2.31-2.71) and 2.89 (95% CI, 2.66-3.14), and for women without dental care 2.94 (95% CI, 2.77-3.12) and 2.88 (95% CI, 2.68-3.10) for Copenhagen and Funen, respectively. Other important predictive factors for nonparticipation were not being married and not being Danish. In conclusion, to enhance participation in mammography screening programmes special attention needs to be given to women not using other primary health care services. All women in Copenhagen, irrespective of their socio-demographic characteristics, had low participation. Screening programmes have to find ways to handle this urbanity factor.