Importance of physician's role highlighted in survey of women's breast screening practices

OBJECTIVE: To describe women's breast screening knowledge, attitudes, intentions and practices. DESIGN: Telephone survey. PARTICIPANTS: Random population-based sample of 383 women aged 50 to 69, living in Ottawa-Carleton, and having no history of breast cancer. Participation rates were 81%. RESULTS: Only 47% reported having had a mammogram within the two years before the survey, and 57% had received a physical breast exam within the previous year. Intentions to arrange screening were positively correlated to income, previous mammography, encouragement to have a mammogram, knowledge, knowing a person with breast cancer, an absence of negative attitudes (i.e., mammograms unnecessary), and low decisional conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in participation rates will be achieved only if women are convinced of the need for screening, and physicians encourage them to be screened.