C. Rodriguez et al., PREDICTIVE FACTORS OF ENROLLMENT AND ADHERENCE IN A BREAST-CANCER SCREENING-PROGRAM IN BARCELONA (SPAIN), Social science & medicine, 40(8), 1995, pp. 1155-1160
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Social Sciences, Biomedical","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
This paper study the predictive factors associated to enrollment and a
dherence in a breast cancer screening program in Barcelona, Spain; the
Program is targeted to women 50-70 years of age who are members of a
Health Maintenance Organization. Data were collected by personal inter
view for the attending women and by telephone in the non-attending gro
up. The questionnaire was focused on knowledge, attitudes and practice
s related to female cancer prevention and breast cancer risk factors.
Data analysis consisted of bivariate and multivariate analysis. Enroll
ing in a breast cancer screening program was strongly associated with
practices related to cancer prevention in the bivariate analysis. Havi
ng had a previous mammography was the only behavioral factor that show
ed an independent relationship with enrollment (OR= 6.45, 95% CI=3.35-
12.42) in the multivariate analysis together with being younger than 5
5 and having family history of cancer. Adherence was associated with h
aving the best opinion of the program, knowing the preventive role of
mammography and performing regular breast self-examination in the biva
riate analysis; of these, knowing the preventive role of mammography (
013-2.66, 95% CI=1.14-6.18) and performing regular breast self-examina
tion (OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.23-3.23) were independently associated in the
multivariated analysis. Being a relative of a municipal worker and you
nger than 55 were also significantly associated with adherence. Gettin
g women to participate in a breast cancer screening program is difficu
lt-mailed invitation letters are not sufficient. It is not the clinica
l procedure itself that inhibits participation, however, since women w
ho have had a mammography in the past are more likely to both enroll a
nd adhere to the program.