CAN POSTAL PROMPTS FROM GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS IMPROVE THE UPTAKE OF BREAST SCREENING - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN ONE EAST LONDON GENERAL-PRACTICE

Objective-To determine the effect on the uptake of breast screening of a personalised letter from the general practitioner recommending mamm ography, sent to coincide with an invitation from the NHS breast scree ning programme. Design-Randomised control trial with stratification of prognostic variables. Setting-A group practice in Hackney, east Londo n. Subjects-473 women invited for breast screening by the City and Eas t London Breast Screening Service. Outcome measure Attendance for mamm ography. Results All women in the randomised trial were followed up; 1 34 of 236 (57%) randomly allocated to receive the prompting letter att ended for mammography compared with 120 of 234 (51%) controls. This di fference was not significant (chi(2) =1.43, p=0.23) Conclusion-Persona l recommendation by a letter prompting attendance for mammography from the general practitioner known best to women due to be screened did n ot improve uptake of breast screening in this east London practice. Ot her strategies are needed to increase uptake of mammography in inner c ities.