Open AccessWomen's perceptions of screening mammography
Author(s) -
Irwig Les,
Cockburn Jill,
Turnbull Deborah,
Simpson Judy M.,
Mock Philip,
Tattersall Martin
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1035-7319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.1991.tb00006.x
Subject(s) - mammography , medicine , breast cancer , telephone survey , quarter (canadian coin) , family medicine , breast cancer screening , screening mammography , perception , demography , gynecology , cancer , psychology , advertising , neuroscience , sociology , business , history , archaeology
A random sample of women in Sydney were interviewed by telephone to determine their knowledge about and attitudes to mammography. A response rate of 56 per cent (628 women) was obtained. While the majority of women had had some experience with breast cancer, knowledge about which age groups were most at risk and treatment alternatives was limited. Only about half of the sample had heard about screening mammography before the survey. However, when a simple explanation was given, 79 per cent expressed a favourable attitude toward it. Only 22 per cent of women thought of themselves as being personally susceptible to breast cancer; the proportion was lower in women over 60 than in those in their 40s. Morbid concern about breast cancer was rare. About a quarter of the sample expressed concern about mammographically induced exposure to radiation. Attitudes and perceptions of personal susceptibility were not associated with knowledge about risks of breast cancer. However, having a favourable attitude and a lack of concern about radiation were associated with previously having heard about screening mammography. Women speaking a language other than English at home and from households where the main income earner was in an unskilled occupation were least likely to have heard of screening mammography. Suggestions for data‐based recruitment strategies are discussed.