Mammography screening practices among primary care physicians.

Mammography screening is controversial; consequently, physicians' compliance with established recommendations varies. This questionnaire showed that 55.2% of responding physicians have some form of schedule for mammographic screening, but only 7.5% follow the Canadian recommendations exactly. The main reasons for not screening are fears of radiation exposure, concerns about cost-effectiveness, and feelings that mammography does not improve the prognosis of breast cancer. Physicians were more likely to screen by mammography if they were in group practice, female, had completed a family practice residency, and had been in practice 15 or fewer years.