BREAST-CANCER SCREENING IN AUSTRALIAN GENERAL-PRACTICE - RESULTS OF ANATIONAL SURVEY

Objective: To determine current beliefs and knowledge about, and use o f, two screening tests for breast cancer (mammography and clinical bre ast examination [CBE]) among general practitioners (GPs). Design, part icipants and setting: National postal survey of randomly selected GPs from throughout Australia in May 1996. Main outcome measures: Belief i n the effectiveness of each screening test in reducing premature death s from breast cancer; recommended age group and screening interval for each test; likelihood of including each opportunistically or in a hea lth check-up. Predictors were determined by regression analyses. Resul ts: The response rate was 67% (855/1271). Significantly more responden ts believed in the effectiveness of mammography than of CBE (92% v. 66 %). About half identified women 50 years and over as the appropriate t arget group for mammography. Only 40% indicated they would be ''highly likely'' to discuss mammography opportunistically, although 82% would be ''highly likely'' to discuss it in a health check-up. After adjust ing for confounders, female GPs were more likely to discuss mammograph ic screening and to advocate a biennial frequency. Older GPs and those from New South Wales were least likely to recommend mammography (cons istent with the national policy). Significantly more respondents were ''highly likely'' to discuss CBE than mammography in a health check-up . Conclusions: GPs are convinced of the effectiveness of mammography, but as respondents were more likely to screen by CBE than to recommend mammography in a dedicated health check-up a consistent national poli cy about CBE would be highly desirable.