TY - JOUR

T1 - Women's experiences of age‐related discontinuation from mammography screening

T2 - A qualitative interview study

AU - Gram, Emma Grundtvig

AU - Knudsen, Sigrid W.

AU - Brodersen, John Brandt

AU - Jønsson, Alexandra Brandt Ryborg

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - IntroductionIn Denmark, women are discontinued from mammography screening at age 69 due to decreased likelihood of benefits and increased likelihood of harm. The risk of harm increases with age and includes false positives, overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In a questionnaire survey, 24 women expressed unsolicited concerns about being discontinued from mammography screening due to age. This calls for further investigation of experiences related to discontinuation from screening.MethodsWe invited the women, who had left comments on the questionnaire, to participate in in-depth interviews with the purpose to explore their reactions, preferences, and conceptions about mammography screening and discontinuation. The interviews lasted 1–4 h and were followed up with a telephone interview 2 weeks after the initial interview.ResultsThe women had high expectations of the benefits of mammography screening and felt that participation was a moral obligation. Following that, they perceived the screening discontinuation as a result of societal age discrimination and consequently felt devalued. Further, the women perceived the discontinuation as a health threat, felt more susceptible to late diagnosis and death, and therefore sought out new ways to control their risk of breast cancer.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the age-related discontinuation from mammography screening might be of more importance than previously assumed. This study raises important questions about screening ethics, and we encourage research to explore this in other settings.

AB - IntroductionIn Denmark, women are discontinued from mammography screening at age 69 due to decreased likelihood of benefits and increased likelihood of harm. The risk of harm increases with age and includes false positives, overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In a questionnaire survey, 24 women expressed unsolicited concerns about being discontinued from mammography screening due to age. This calls for further investigation of experiences related to discontinuation from screening.MethodsWe invited the women, who had left comments on the questionnaire, to participate in in-depth interviews with the purpose to explore their reactions, preferences, and conceptions about mammography screening and discontinuation. The interviews lasted 1–4 h and were followed up with a telephone interview 2 weeks after the initial interview.ResultsThe women had high expectations of the benefits of mammography screening and felt that participation was a moral obligation. Following that, they perceived the screening discontinuation as a result of societal age discrimination and consequently felt devalued. Further, the women perceived the discontinuation as a health threat, felt more susceptible to late diagnosis and death, and therefore sought out new ways to control their risk of breast cancer.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the age-related discontinuation from mammography screening might be of more importance than previously assumed. This study raises important questions about screening ethics, and we encourage research to explore this in other settings.

U2 - 10.1111/hex.13723

DO - 10.1111/hex.13723

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36807965

VL - 26

SP - 1096

EP - 1106

JO - Health Expectations

JF - Health Expectations

SN - 1369-6513

IS - 3

ER -