title: [Cancer screening in the elderly: Explorative mixed methods study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefits of cancer screening in the elderly are uncertain. While the risk of cancer increases with age the participation in cancer screening decreases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated the attitudes of older adults towards cancer screening as well as their motives for or against participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population-based explorative mixed methods study was based on a survey of residents aged 69-89 years from the district of Western Pomerania-Greifswald (northeast Germany). Criteria for exclusion were cognitive deficits and/or cancer. Attitudes towards different statements regarding cancer screening were assessed by a questionnaire using 5-point Likert scales. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the motivations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 630 contacted residents, 120 (19%) with an average age of 77 years (SD ± 6 years) participated in the face-to-face survey. The majority were in favor of lifelong cancer screening, 14% stated other health problems to be more important than cancer screening and 7% assumed that they would not live long enough to benefit from screening. Motives for participation in cancer screening were habit, regularity, sense of obligation, fear and belief in benefits. Motives for discontinuing screening included a lack of interest, no assumed necessity and fear. Disadvantages were not feared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly people show great trust in cancer screening. They overestimated the benefits of cancer screening and their risk to die of cancer. The elderly should be better informed about the benefits and risks of cancer screening. Shared decision-making should be based on life expectancy and personal preferences.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Institut für Community Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald KdöR, Fleischmannstr. 42-44, 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolezil
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Institut für Community Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald KdöR, Fleischmannstr. 42-44, 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland. allgemeinmedizin@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: Annekathrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Institut für Community Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald KdöR, Fleischmannstr. 42-44, 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jahnke
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Institut für Community Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald KdöR, Fleischmannstr. 42-44, 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thonack
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Study of Health in Pomerania - Klinisch-epidemiologische Forschung (Shinterviewpartner-KEF), Institut für Community Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Carsten Oliver
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Institut für Community Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald KdöR, Fleischmannstr. 42-44, 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chenot
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Attitudes; Cancer; Elderly; Motivation; Screening