title: Impact of age-specific recommendation changes on organized breast screening programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent changes in recommendations for mammography screening for women in their forties could have an impact on organized screening programs, as these require clear definition of target and eligible populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internationally, a majority of programs target women fifty and over, and so the recent USPSTF age recommendations for screening are quite consistent with this practice. However, there is a good deal of variability in the availability of population-based screening programs to women in their forties should they choose to participate.
  Several programs are reviewing recommendations regarding the eligibility of women in their forties; as guidelines indicate women in this age group should be eligible for screening, even if not targeted, there is discussion as to whether they should be allowed in programs so that they benefit from the same programmatic quality assurance afforded to the target population of women over 50. Clear communication of the evidentiary basis for the eligibility criteria and target populations is required, so that the public is aware that programs are designed to deliver maximal population impact, while minimizing population risk.
authors: Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Suite 300, 1 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 2P1. heather.bryant@partnershipagainstcancer.ca
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Bryant
authors: Verna
authors: V
authors: Mai
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016387:Women's Health