Røssell, E.-L., Bekker, H.L. orcid.org/0000-0003-1978-5795, Schonberg, M.A. et al. (3 more authors) (2024) Danish women make decisions about participation in breast cancer screening prior to invitation information: an online survey using experimental methods. Medical Decision Making. ISSN 0272-989X
Abstract
Introduction
At mammography screening invitation, the Danish Health Authority recommends women aged 50 to 69 y make an informed decision about whether to be screened. Previous studies have shown that women have very positive attitudes about screening participation. Therefore, we hypothesized that Danish women may already have decided to participate in breast cancer screening prior to receiving their screening invitation at age 50 y.
Methods
We invited a random sample of 2,952 Danish women aged 44 to 49 y (prescreening age) to complete an online questionnaire about barriers to informed screening decision making using the official digital mailbox system in Denmark. We asked participants about their screening intentions using 3 different questions to which women were randomized: screening presented 1) as an opportunity, 2) as a choice, and 3) as an opportunity plus a question about women’s stage of decision making. All women completed questions about background characteristics, intended participation in the screening program, use and impact of screening information, and preferences for the decision-making process. Data were linked to sociodemographic register data.
Results
A total of 790 (26.8%) women participated in the study. Herein, 97% (95% confidence interval: 96%–98%) reported that they wanted to participate in breast cancer screening when invited at age 50 y. When presented with the choice compared with the opportunity framing, more women rejected screening. When asked about their stage of decision making, most (87%) had already made a decision about screening participation and were unlikely to change their mind.
Conclusion
In our study, almost all women of prescreening age wanted to participate in breast cancer screening, suggesting that providing information at the time of screening invitation may be too late to support informed decision making.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2024. This is an author produced version of an article published in Medical Decision Making. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | breast cancer screening; decision making; screening attitude; screening information |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (Leeds) > Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Apr 2024 09:41 |
Last Modified: | 10 May 2024 11:12 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | SAGE |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/0272989X241248142 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:210963 |