Centre for Policy on Ageing



Uptake of breast cancer screening in older women
Author(s)	Nia I Edwards, Dee A Jones
Journal title	Age and Ageing, vol 29, no 2, March 2000
Pages	pp 131-136
Keywords	Older women ; Cancer ; Screening ; Wales.
Annotation	This study of breast screening was conducted as part of a larger study of older people's health, well-being and service use. 1604 women aged 65 and over and living at home were randomly selected from the registers of three Family Health Service Authorities in Wales. 120 respondents (8%) had previously been screened. Rates were higher amongst those who were married, separated or divorced than those who were single. Of those who had not previously been screened, 742 (50%) reported that they would attend if invited. Age influenced potential attendance: 67% of those aged 65-69 would accept, compared with 27% of those aged 80 and over. Future attenders were significantly more likely to belong to a higher social class and to be currently married, and were significantly less likely to be disabled or depressed, but more likely to be anxious. The study concludes that it is not justifiable to exclude older women from routine breast screening on the false premise of poor assumed attendance rates. Older women should be considered for, and be encouraged to accept breast screening. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-000717203 A
Classmark	BD: CK: 3V: 9
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.