Razones de no asistencia a un programa de cribado mamográfico

Abstract

Objective. The present study analyses the psychosocial factors associated with participation in a mammography screening program. Methods. A retrospective design was used to analyze the reasons for non-attendance given by a sample of women who declined to participate in a mammography screening program (N=384). Some specific health beliefs held by the non-attendees were also compared with those of a group of women who accepted participating in the screening program (N=715). Results. Some important reasons stated by non-attendees referred to the invitation to the program (not receiving the letter, losing or forgetting it), personal restrictions (family obligations, illness, work), considering screening to be unnecessary in the absence of symptoms, and fear of the results of mammography. Analysis of the differences in health beliefs between participants and non participants confirmed these results, and identified a number of specific attitudes associated with participation in the mammography screening program. These include the belief that it is important to perform actions to improve health, that mammography screening would lead to early treatment if there was anything wrong, that this procedure is not a waste of time, and especially that salient others consider it important that women undergo breast screening. Conclusions. The results of our study clarify some beliefs and attitudes that should be stressed in order to increase participation in a mammography screening program.