title: Enthusiasm for cancer screening in Great Britain: a general population survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With growing concerns about risk of harm from cancer screening, particularly from overdiagnosis, this study aimed to assess public attitudes to cancer screening in Great Britain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a population-based survey to assess attitudes to cancer screening, screening history and demographic characteristics, in men and women aged 50-80 years. Data were collected using face-to-face computer-assisted interviews in 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our sample of 2024, attitudes to cancer screening were overwhelmingly positive with almost 90% believing that screening is 'almost always a good idea' and 49% saying they would be tested for cancer even if it was untreatable. Attitudes were particularly positive among those who had previously taken part in breast or colorectal screening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that attitudes to cancer screening are very positive in Great Britain. Widespread enthusiasm for cancer screening may hamper attempts to encourage a greater appreciation of the limitations and potential harms of screening.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK, Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London EC1V 4AD, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology