Strategies for Increasing Participation in Community Breast Cancer Screening

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 14 studies. The evidence favoured five active strategies for inviting women into community breast cancer screening services: letter of invitation (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.92), mailed educational material (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.96 to 4.02), letter of invitation plus phone call (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.02 to 3.18), phone call (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.23), and training activities plus direct remainders for the women (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.40).

Another Cochrane review [Abstract] 2 assessed the effect of automated telephone communication systems (ATCS) on screening of breast and colorectal cancer. Multimodal ATCS, where the calls are delivered as part of a multicomponent intervention increased uptake of screening for breast cancer (RR 2.17, 95% CI 1.55 to 3.04; 2 studies, n=462; high certainty) versus usual care.

A review 3 included 18 RCTs. A positive impact of a letter compared to no letter or usual practice on screening participation was observed. This was consistent for breast cancer and cervical screening participation but inconsistent for colorectal cancer screening participation.

References

• Bonfill X, Marzo M, Pladevall M, Martí J, Emparanza JI. Strategies for increasing women participation in community breast cancer screening. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;(1):CD002943. [PubMed]
• Posadzki P, Mastellos N, Ryan R et al. Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long-term conditions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;(12):CD009921. [PubMed]
• Yakubu M, Meggetto O, Lai Y et al. Impact of postal correspondence letters on participation in cancer screening: a rapid review. Prev Med 2021;145:106404. [PubMed]