title: Time trends of process and impact indicators in Italian breast screening programmes: 1998-2008.
abstract: Since its establishment in 1990, one of the main tasks of the Italian Group for Mammography Screening (GISMa) is the systematic data collection on the activity of the organised mammography screening programmes implemented in Italy. Data are collected in an aggregated way and gathered through a standardised form to calculate process and impact parameters. Data analysis referring to the period 1998-2008 shows that crude attendance rate reached the acceptable 50% standard, presenting a higher level of participation in Northern and Central Italy compared to Southern Italy/Islands, where attendance rates are still inadequate and do not reach the acceptable standard. In areas where the centralised management is more established or complete, the participation rate was higher compared with areas without such characteristics, with differences from 5% to 22% (in 2008). The time trends of the other parameters included in the analysis showed, in 2008, a good average performance. For example, benign/malignant surgical biopsy ratio (B/M ratio) reached 0.21 at first screening and 0.11 at subsequent screening; overall detection rate, detection rate for in situ and small cancers (≤10 mm) showed a good trend, reaching 5.7‰, 1.1‰, and 1.4‰, respectively, for first screening, and 5.0‰, 0.7‰, and 1.4‰ for subsequent screening. On the contrary, excess referral rate at first screening persists over time. These results continue to be consistent with those achieved by other European programmes and reassuring for all Italian mammography screening professionals.
authors.affiliation: Unità di epidemiologia dei tumori, CPO Piemonte, Turin.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Senore
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castagno
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paci
authors.forename: Nereo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Segnan
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors