title: A survey study of women's responses to information about overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening in Britain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is concern about public understanding of overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening, and uncertainty about the likely impact on screening participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population-based survey of 2272 women, we assessed understanding of overdiagnosis and screening intentions before and after exposure to an explanation of overdiagnosis, and one of the three information formats providing an estimate of the rate of overdiagnosis based on the findings of the UK Independent Review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective and objective comprehension of overdiagnosis was moderate across information formats (64% and 57%, respectively). Following overdiagnosis information, 7% of women showed a decrease in screening intention, with a stronger effect among women below screening age (<47 years), and receiving the estimate of the rate of overdiagnosis in a simple ratio format (one life saved to three overdiagnoses).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brief written information on overdiagnosis was incompletely understood, but reduced breast screening intentions in a proportion of women, regardless of comprehension. Subjective comprehension was lower among women who had not yet reached screening age but the deterrent effect was higher.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winstanley
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK, Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London EC1V 4AD, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003625:Data Collection; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011379:Prognosis