Effect of false-positive screening mammograms on rescreening in Western Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the effect of previous false-positive mammogram results on rescreening rates in a population of women participating in the BreastScreen WA (BSWA) program.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of women aged 50-69 years who received free screening mammograms at BSWA between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2007.


METHODS
Percentages of women attending rescreening, and risk ratios for rescreening.


RESULTS
A total of 22 396 screening mammograms were falsely reported as positive, and 560 333 mammogram screens were reported as normal (negative). Women with a false-positive index mammogram result were less likely than women with a true-negative index mammogram result to attend rescreening at 27 months (67.6% v 70.7%; risk ratio, 0.96; P < 0.001). A reduced rescreening rate was seen in all subgroups of women except Indigenous women. Rescreening rates were affected by the types of assessment done at the recall visit.


CONCLUSIONS
Mammographic population screening services should keep their false-positive result rates low, to prevent women from being deterred from screening.
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.
Marcus J H
MJ
Sim
Siva Prema
SP
Siva
Intan S
IS
Ramli
Lin
L
Fritschi
Janette
J
Tresham
Elizabeth J
EJ
Wylie
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014904:Western Australia