Mammographic surveillance of asymptomatic breast cancer relatives in general practice: rate of re-attendance and GP- and patient-related barriers.

Background: Several guidelines have been formulated for mammographic screening of breast cancer relatives. No studies have examined the adherence of GPs and their patients to these recommendations.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the rate of re-attendance of breast cancer relatives for mammographic screening requested by GPs and specify the barriers for non-attending follow-up mammography.

Methods: The study included all asymptomatic women aged 35 years or older with a first-degree family history of breast cancer, referred for mammography to our department of radiology by their GP between 1 January 1992 and 1 September 1994. Reasons for not re-attending mammography within 2 years were obtained by sending a questionnaire to GPs and, if necessary, telephone calls to GPs or their patients. The questionnaire was accompanied by a reminder, in which we advised re-attendance. The number of women who still underwent repeated mammographic screening within the 2 months following the reminder was determined.

Results: In 123 out of 234 patients (52.6%) follow-up mammography had been performed within 2 years. Barriers to undergoing follow-up mammography were GP-related in 70.3% of cases and patient-related in 29.7%. Of the 111 non-re-attenders, 52 (47.7%) still underwent follow-up mammography within 2 months after the reminder. This examination was performed more often if the barriers to re-attendance were GP-related rather than patient-related (57.7% versus 24.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.0-53.9). Significantly more patients re-attended after the reminder if the GP-related barrier was an insufficient retrieval system rather than disagreement with mammography guidelines (81.3% versus 20.0%, 95% CI 40.4-82.0).

Conclusions: Many breast cancer relatives did not undergo regular mammographic screening. Non-re-attendance resulted from a limited degree of acceptance and implementation of the screening recommendations by physicians as well as reluctance of the patient to adhere to such recommendations. A reminder, generated by a radiology department, may increase the performance of follow-up mammography.