[Analysis of a program of early breast cancer detection in a rural area].

OBJECTIVE

To find the results of a breast cancer early-detection programme run in a rural area, in terms of the activities corresponding to primary care.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, observational study.

SETTING

Rural district in Primary Care Area 11, Madrid. The programme was run in this area between 1st February and 31st March 1999.

PATIENTS

Women from 50 to 64, both inclusive, who had been called for a mammography.

INTERVENTIONS

Inclusion in the breast cancer early-detection programme and open telephone survey of those who did not take part to find the reasons for not taking part in the randomised sample.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In the period mentioned, 3902 women were called for screening (60.07% of all women between 50 and 64. The rest will be called in a second round in the year 2000). 2099 women attended for mammography (participation index 53.79%), with the following results: 5 (0.24%) highly likely to be malignant; 6 (0.29%) probably malignant; 172 (8.19%) probably benign; 1393 (66.36%) found to be benign; 438 (20.87%) negative; and 85 (4.05%) who needed further evaluation. The main reasons why 46.21% of the women called did not attend for mammography were: they had had one recently (29.9%); could not attend (22.7%); did not want to have one (17.5%); had not received the notification (17.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The participation rate was acceptable, with fewer malignant cases found than in other programmes. It would be important to call again those women who could not attend.