Men's and women's knowledge and perceptions of breast cancer and mammography screening.
BACKGROUND
Although most men are not directly affected by breast cancer, they participate in decisions influencing breast cancer screening and contribute to shaping the social norm on mammography screening. This study tested the hypothesis that men may be less knowledgeable than women about breast cancer and mammography and have less favorable perceptions of mammography screening.


METHODS
A survey was mailed to 952 women and 370 men aged 40 to 80 years, randomly selected from the general population of Geneva, Switzerland. Information collected included knowledge and perceptions about breast cancer and mammography, familiarity with screening recommendations, and perceived usefulness of an organized screening program.


RESULTS
Men were almost as knowledgeable as women about breast cancer (difference in z-scores: -0.12; 95% CI: -0.25, 0.02; P = 0.10) and breast cancer screening (difference: -0.12; 95% CI: -0.25, 0.02; P = 0.09). Both men and women perceived mammography screening to be useful, but men had significantly higher z-scores of positive attitude toward mammography than women (difference: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.42; P < 0.001). Younger and more educated respondents of either sex were both more knowledgeable and more favorably inclined toward screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Men were as knowledgeable about breast cancer and mammography screening as women but had more favorable attitudes toward breast cancer screening than women. Actions to strengthen community support for mammography screening programs should primarily target older and less educated persons of either sex.
Chamot
Eric
E
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Geneva University, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland. chamot@cmu.unige.ch
Perneger
Thomas V
TV
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology