IMPROVING UPTAKE OF BREAST-SCREENING IN MULTIETHNIC POPULATIONS - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL USING PRACTICE-RECEPTION-STAFF TO CONTACT NONATTENDERS

Objectives: To determine whether a two hour training programme for gen eral practice reception staff could improve uptake in patients who had failed to attend for breast screening, and whether women from differe nt ethnic groups benefited equally. Design: Controlled trial, randomis ed by general practice. Setting: Inner London borough of Newham. Subje cts: 2064 women aged 50-64 years who had failed to attend for breast s creening. Women came from 26 of 37 eligible practices. 31% were white, 17% were Indian, 10% Pakistani, 14% black, 6% Bangladeshi, 1% Chinese , 4% were from other ethnic groups, and in 16% the ethnic group was no t reported. Main outcome measures: Attendance for breast screening in relation to ethnic group in women who had not taken up their original invitation. Results: Attendance in the intervention group was signific antly better than in the control group (9% v 4%). The response was bes t in Indian women-it was 19% in the intervention group and 5% in the c ontrol gorup. Conclusions: This simple, low cost intervention improved breast screening rates modestly. Improvement was greatest in Indian w omen-probably because many practice staff shared their cultural and li nguistic background. This intervention could be effective as part of a multifaceted strategy to improve uptake in areas with low rates.