EXPLORING THE REASONS FOR NONPARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN A BREAST-CANCER SCREENING CAMPAIGN

Study objectives: to determine the reasons for non-participation in a programme of screening for breast cancer. Design: semi-structured tele phone interview. Setting: a pilot programme of screening by mammograph y, targeted at all women aged between 50 and 70 years in two regions o f Switzerland. Population: a sample of 33 non-participants were interv iewed. Main results: few non-participants took advantage of the screen ing tests for female cancers. However, only one-quarter were determine d never to have a mammography, The others did not participate because of organizational problems (one-quarter) or because they did not under stand what a mammography involved (half), Conclusions: there is consid erable scope for increasing the rate of participation. Efforts must be made to improve the information directed at the socially less favoure d (the objectives of the screening and the organizational arrangements ). Family doctors are frequently consulted and are best placed to comm unicate this information. They should be encouraged to play a much mor e active part in this respect.