Physicians’ attitudes and behaviour toward screening mammography in women 40 to 49 years of age

Physicians’ attitudes and behaviour toward screening mammography in women 40 to 49 years of age

Setting Women’s College Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, both in Toronto, Ont.

" Most physicians promoted BA (81%), and suggestions for age of BA initiation ranged from 16 to 40 years with almost half recommending beginning at age 20 (42%), followed by age 30 (23%) and age 18 (19%). Among physicians who supported BA, 69% were from WCH versus 31% from SHSC (P < .03)."

"Limitations

The limitations of this study include the small sample size and lack of generalizability. This study might not be generalizable to male physicians or to community practice settings, as female physicians were overrepresented and the study was conducted at 2 urban academic family practice centres...."

Conclusion

This survey of predominantly female physicians practising in an urban setting suggests that many 40- to 49-year-old women at average risk of breast cancer are not being offered the opportunity to discuss and initiate screening mammography unless they specifically request it, and most physicians are now recommending BA rather than BSE.