Mammography screening in Greece: an exploratory survey of women’s views, experiences and behaviours.

Background: Internationally, breast cancer comprises 29% of all cancer incidences. In Greece, 1,500-1,800women die annually from breast cancer out of the 4,000 who are affected. Only 5% are detected at an early diseasestage through mammography screening.Aim: This paper presents findings from a study exploring the factors that influence Greek women’smammography screening behaviour.Methodology: Data were collected in Athens-Greece, during the period March-July 2008, from individuals whowere members of six women’s associations. One hundred and eighty six questionnaires were completed and 33interviews were conducted from a sub-sample. This paper reports the findings from the questionnaire survey.Results: Participants had a variety of demographic characteristics with 85% of them having attendedmammography screening. Only 61% of them intended to continue in the future. Τhe majority of women agreedwith a number of factors which supported their decision to participate in regular mammography screening, such asdoctors’ encouragement and mammogram efficacy to detect breast cancer at an early stage, while anxiety wasidentified as a possible inhibitor to their participation.Conclusion: Women’s mammography screening behaviour and perceptions of mammography screening appearedto be positive in relation to their participation. However, the reasons as to why a large number of women indicatedthey were unlikely to go for mammography screening again is not known, and needs further investigation

Alcohol-Related Harm in the Practice.

Alcohol-related harm is a serious public health concern. Aisha Holloway explains how practice nurses can identify those at risk and deliver brief interventions to facilitate the change of alcohol consumption behaviour </jats:p

Undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension in rural African adults:A scoping review protocol of primary health care interventions

INTRODUCTION: Non-communicable diseases cause 74% of global deaths, with cardiovascular diseases as the major contributor. Hypertension, a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent in Africa. Diagnosis, treatment and control rates are notably limited in rural areas. This limitation results in increased risks of premature mortality and complications such as stroke due to socioeconomic, cultural and geographical challenges. Progress in African countries enhancing hypertension services through primary health care interventions exists. However, a comprehensive review of all primary health care interventions addressing undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension in rural African settings is lacking. This scoping review aims to categorise primary health care interventions targeting undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension in rural African adults. Intervention components will be mapped to the four stages outlined in the hypertension care cascade to develop a pilot intervention logic model for rural African adults with hypertension.METHOD AND ANALYSIS: The scoping review protocol will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Studies considered for inclusion will include any intervention delivered by any healthcare provider in a rural African primary care setting targeting any stage of hypertension care. Eight databases will be searched without date restrictions, supplemented by grey literature and reference list searches. A two-stage screening process (title/abstract and full text) will determine evidence source eligibility. All eligible sources of evidence will be extracted, charted and evaluated using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist. A pilot logic model categorising and mapping interventions to the four stages of the hypertension care cascade will be visually presented and analysed using narrative synthesis.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No primary data will be collected; therefore, ethics approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated to local health authorities in Ghana and other African Regions and through national and international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.</p