European guidelines on breast cancer screening and diagnosis

How should women from socially disadvantaged groups, with an intellectual disability or non-native speakers expect to be invited to breast cancer screening programmes?

• With a targeted communication strategy, as suggested by the ECIBC's Guidelines Development Group (GDG)
• With some tailored communication strategies for inviting women from socially disadvantaged groups.

• Women from socially disadvantaged groups, or
• women with an intellectual disability, or
• non-native speakers

who, 

• are between 50 and 69 years old
• do not have a high risk of breast cancer
• do not have symptoms of breast cancer

For women aged 50-69 screening is strongly recommended, and invitations targeted at women from specific vulnerable populations may increase their participation in screening programmes.

The GDG noted that different tailored interventions may have different effects in women from socially disadvantaged groups participating in screening programmes. Some tailored invitation letters including individualised risk factor information probably reduce women’s participation; whereas other strategies tailored to women’s knowledge about breast cancer and screening may increase their participation, but the evidence is very uncertain.

The GDG did not formulate recommendations on how to invite women aged 45-49 and 70-74, for whom attending screening is, however, suggested.

If you are in one of these age ranges and receive an invitation, you can speak with your healthcare professional about the benefits and harms of attending screening.

High risk of breast cancer refers to women with increased risk due to genetic predisposition (mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2), reproductive history or race and ethnicity.

Targeted communication strategy: According to the evidence reviewed by the GDG, targeting refers to any intervention for a defined sub-population that takes into account characteristics shared by the sub-population’s members. Some of the interventions included in the evidence involved telephone counselling in addition to educational material, a comprehensive health assessment programme, or telephone reminders followed by telephone support, among others.

Tailored communication strategy: According to the evidence reviewed by the GDG, tailoring refers to any individualised intervention for women with the expectation that it will lead to an increase in participation in screening.  Some of the interventions included in the evidence involved interactive computer programmes or personalised letters.