The attitudes of women and feasibility of screening for ovarian and endometrial cancers in inner city practices.
The study aimed to assess the attitudes of women and the feasibility of screening for ovarian and endometrial cancers using vaginal ultrasound should screening prove to be effective. A total of 4873 women aged 45-74 were registered with 9 general practices in inner London. Of these, 1469 (30%) were ineligible for screening for ovarian and endometrial cancers as they proved to be the wrong age, had moved, or had undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The proportion of ineligible women varied between practices (24-39%) (P < 0.001). The adjusted response rate to a questionnaire on attitudes to ovarian and endometrial screening was 56% (1833/3360). Of the women, 1395 (76%) were willing to be screened with a significant difference between age groups, those over 65, at increased risk, being less willing (P < 0.001). Non-caucasians were more willing to be screened (P < 0.001) but educational attainment did not influence attitude to screening. Those women who were not very worried about vaginal instrumentation were more willing to be screened than those who were very worried (P < 0.001). The uptake rate for ovarian and endometrial screening, which is currently of unproven value, was 43% (1480/3360) with a significant difference between practices (33-49%) (P < 0.01).
Wolfe
C D
CD
Division of Public Health Medicine, United Medical and Dental Schools, St. Thomas's Hospital Campus, London, UK.
Raju
K S
KS
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health