Research article

Comparison of various characteristics of women who do and do not attend for breast cancer screening

Emily Banks¹ , Valerie Beral¹, Rebecca Cameron¹, Ann Hogg¹, Nicola Langley¹, Isobel Barnes¹, Diana Bull¹, Gillian Reeves¹, Ruth English², Sarah Taylor³, Jon Elliman⁴ and Carole Lole Harris⁵

¹  Imperial Cancer Research Fund Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK

²  Breast Care Unit, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust, Oxford, UK

³  Breast Care Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, UK

⁴  Kingswood Surgery, Park North, Swindon, UK

⁵  Deer Park Surgery, Witney, UK

author email corresponding author email

Breast Cancer Res 2002, 4:R1doi:10.1186/bcr418

Published:	6 November 2001

Abstract

Background

Information regarding the characteristics and health of women who do and do not attend for breast cancer screening is limited and representative data are difficult to obtain.

Methods

Information on age, deprivation and prescriptions for various medications was obtained for all women at two UK general practices who were invited to breast cancer screening through the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme. The characteristics of women who attended and did not attend screening were compared.

Results

Of the 1064 women invited to screening from the two practices, 882 (83%) attended screening. Screening attenders were of a similar age to non-attenders but came from significantly less deprived areas (30% of attenders versus 50% of non-attenders came from the most deprived areas, P < 0.0001) and were more likely to have a current prescription for hormone replacement therapy (32% versus 19%, P < 0.0001). No significant differences in recent prescriptions of medication for hypertension, heart disease, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus, asthma, thyroid disease or depression/anxiety were observed between attenders and non-attenders.

Conclusion

Women who attend the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme come from less deprived areas and are more likely to have a current prescription for hormone replacement therapy than non-attenders, but do not differ in terms of age or recent prescriptions for various other medications.