Breast and cervical cancer screening for women between 50 and 69 years of age: what prompts women to screen?

The objective of this study was to examine mammography and cervical cancer screening rates among women aged 50 to 69 and to understand which prompts are effective for improving screening compliance. A self-administered survey was sent to 800 randomly selected participants in a health region in a relatively poor, rural province in Eastern Canada with a universal health care system. Since 1995, New Brunswick has instituted a biannual self-referral mammography screening program for women between 50 and 69 years of age. The response rate to the survey was 66%. Mammography screening compliance was 73% and was most significantly associated with annual clinical breast examinations, compliance with cervical cancer screening, and physician suggestion (p <.001). Cervical cancer screening compliance was 91% and was significantly associated with annual clinical breast examinations, compliance with mammography screening, and physician suggestion (p<.001). Contact with a physician is most effective for promoting screening compliance.