Document Detail


Improving breast screening uptake: persuading initial non-attenders to attend.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8790517     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: Firstly, to determine whether the acceptance rate of the second invitation for breast screening (sent to women who have failed to attend after the first invitation) might be increased by an accompanying letter from a general practitioner (GP letter). Secondly, to identify the additional costs of sending such a letter. METHODS: 465 women registered with four practices in a single health centre were recruited into a randomised controlled trial in which the intervention was the inclusion of a standard, photocopied letter signed by the non-attender's doctor with the second invitation to attend for breast screening. The control group received only the standard invitation from the breast screening centre. The costs associated with the intervention were assessed from data supplied by the breast screening centre, supplemented by direct observation of the preparation of second invitations and semistructured interviews with the staff taking part. RESULTS: The attendance rate of the test group one month after the second invitation for screening was significantly higher than that of the control group (21% v 10%, P < 0.01). The average cost of a GP letter included with the invitation was 1.1 pence and the marginal cost for each extra attender was 9.6 pence. No non-monetary costs were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of a GP letter appeared to be effective and feasible in increasing the attendance rate to the second invitation. This intervention should be tested in other screening groups to confirm the effectiveness of a GP letter and its cost effectiveness.
Authors:
K M Turner; B J Wilson; F J Gilbert
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of medical screening     Volume:  1     ISSN:  0969-1413     ISO Abbreviation:  J Med Screen     Publication Date:  1994 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-10-18     Completed Date:  1996-10-18     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9433359     Medline TA:  J Med Screen     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  199-202     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Foresterhill, United Kingdom.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control*
Correspondence as Topic
Costs and Cost Analysis
Family Practice
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Mammography*
Mass Screening / economics,  psychology*,  utilization*
Middle Aged
Patient Compliance*
Scotland
Treatment Refusal

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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