Extension of the target age range of mammography screening programme and governance of mammography practice in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy).
"OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the effectiveness of the regional law No.1035 enacted in 2009 by the local government of the Emilia- Romagna Region (Northern Italy) with the purpose of revising the rules of access to breast-care services. The law dictated the extension of the organised mammography screening programme to women aged 45-49 and 70-74 years in order to decrease their spontaneous screening rates and, thus, the waiting times for the access to diagnostic mammography by women of all ages.



study of time trends (joinpoint regression analysis and before/ after analysis) in annual percent mammography rates and in waiting times for access to clinical radiology facilities (2006-2014) among resident women. The information was taken from the regional Department of Health.



public and accredited private radiology facilities.



age-specific and waiting-time-specific (months) percent rates of organised screening mammography, spontaneous screening mammography, and diagnostic mammography.



following the regional law No.1035, screening rates among women aged 45-49 and 70-74 years reached levels comparable to those attained by women aged 50-69 years. Spontaneous screening rates dropped and waiting times for spontaneous screening mammography (women aged 40-44 years) were cut. For diagnostic mammography, the rates remained stable, except for a decrease among women aged 35-39 and 45-49 years, and waiting times decreased in a constant manner over the study period.



the above-mentioned law met most of its goals. Comprehensive programmes regulating mammography practice at the population level can be effective."
Assessorato alle politiche per la salute, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
Priscilla
P
Sassoli de Bianchi
Registro tumori della Romagna, Istituto scientifico romagnolo per lo studio e la cura dei tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola (FC). alessandra.ravaioli@irst.emr.it.
Alessandra
A
Ravaioli
Assessorato alle politiche per la salute, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
Stefano
S
Ferretti
Assessorato alle politiche per la salute, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
Alba Carola
AC
Finarelli
Assessorato alle politiche per la salute, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
Adriana
A
Giannini
Assessorato alle politiche per la salute, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
Carlo
C
Naldoni
Assessorato alle politiche per la salute, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
Piera
P
Sanna
Registro tumori della Romagna, Istituto scientifico romagnolo per lo studio e la cura dei tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola (FC).
Lauro
L
Bucchi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists