With growing concerns about risk of harm from cancer screening, particularly from overdiagnosis, this study aimed to assess public attitudes to cancer screening in Great Britain

A Chapple

C von Wagner

HR Arkes

J Waller

J Wardle

JR Hoffman

K Osborne

KJ Jørgensen

LB Squiers

LM Schwartz

M Richards

O Brawley

PC Gøtzsche

VA Entwistle

PubMed

Waller, J

Osborne, K

Wardle, J

UCL Discovery

Enthusiasm for cancer screening in Great Britain: a general population survey.

Background: With growing concerns about risk of harm from cancer screening, particularly from overdiagnosis, this study aimed to assess public attitudes to cancer screening in Great Britain. Methods: We used a population-based survey to assess attitudes to cancer screening, screening history and demographic characteristics, in men and women aged 50–80 years. Data were collected using face-to-face computer-assisted interviews in 2012. Results: In our sample of 2024, attitudes to cancer screening were overwhelmingly positive with almost 90 % believing that screening is ‘almost always a good idea ’ and 49 % saying they would be tested for cancer even if it was untreatable. Attitudes were particularly positive among those who had previously taken part in breast or colorectal screening. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that attitudes to cancer screening are very positive in Great Britain. Widespread enthusiasm for cancer screening may hamper attempts to encourage a greater appreciation of the limitations and potential harms of screening. Provision of information about cancer screening has been the subject of much debate in recent years, particularly in relation to mammography where it has been argued that the risks are downplayed (Jørgensen and Gøtzsche, 2006; Gøtzsche et al, 2009). In the United Kingdom, information materials for all thre

CiteSeerX

Enthusiasm for cancer screening in Great Britain: a general population survey

Abstract
          
            Background:
            With growing concerns about risk of harm from cancer screening, particularly from overdiagnosis, this study aimed to assess public attitudes to cancer screening in Great Britain.
          
          
            Methods:
            We used a population-based survey to assess attitudes to cancer screening, screening history and demographic characteristics, in men and women aged 50–80 years. Data were collected using face-to-face computer-assisted interviews in 2012.
          
          
            Results:
            In our sample of 2024, attitudes to cancer screening were overwhelmingly positive with almost 90% believing that screening is ‘almost always a good idea’ and 49% saying they would be tested for cancer even if it was untreatable. Attitudes were particularly positive among those who had previously taken part in breast or colorectal screening.
          
          
            Conclusions:
            Our findings suggest that attitudes to cancer screening are very positive in Great Britain. Widespread enthusiasm for cancer screening may hamper attempts to encourage a greater appreciation of the limitations and potential harms of screening.
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Crossref

British Journal of Cancer

Enthusiasm for cancer screening in Great Britain: a general population survey

Abstract

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