A. Bo (Aarhus, Denmark)
Aarhus UniversityAuthor Of 1 Presentation
168P - Danish women favour hypothetical breast cancer screening with harms, but no benefits
Abstract
Background
Aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality, mammography screening programs have been implemented in many countries. However, the extent and balance between benefits and harms of such screening programs remain contested. Therefore, transparent and balanced information on benefits and harms is recommended as basis for informed decision-making. Previous studies found that informed decision-making was challenged by overly positive attitudes towards cancer screening. In particular, that an objective decision might be challenged by strong emotions, and worry, fear and anxiety of having breast cancer. Thus, we hypothesized that a large proportion of women would be willing to participate in screening regardless of the presented information. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of Danish women’s willingness to participate in a hypothetical mammography screening with no health benefits, only harms.
Methods
We invited a random sample of 768 healthy women in the non-screening population aged 44-49 in the Central Denmark Region to an online survey. After presentation of a hypothetical screening, the survey captured screening attitudes, breast cancer worry, perceived likelihood of breast cancer, assessment of the hypothetical screening test and information on breast cancer history and health literacy. Data were subsequently linked to register data on sociodemographic factors.
Results
A total of 323 (42.1%, 95% CI: 38.5-45.6) women filled in the questionnaire. Hereof, 247/300 (82.3%, 77.5-86.5) were willing to participate in the hypothetical mammography screening with no benefits, only harms. Women were generally very certain about their decision to participate, 63.2% (56.8-69.2) and 52.8% (38.6-66.7) in the participation and non-participation group, respectively. Yet, more than two-thirds in both groups seemed to understand the presented information and responded that the screening did not reduce breast cancer mortality.
Conclusions
A high percentage of women in this study were willing to participate in the hypothetical screening with harms, but no health benefits. Surprisingly, most women understood that the screening did not reduce breast cancer mortality. This indicates that Danish women are unduly positive about mammography screening.
Clinical trial identification
NCT04509063 Registered at Aarhus University: 2016-051-000001, 1835 The project was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Aarhus University, 2020-0094925, 2020-34.
Legal entity responsible for the study
Henrik Støvring and Eeva-Liisa Røssell Johansen.
Funding
Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.