What general practitioners should do about breast screening

摘要

Despite evidence that the national breast screening programme is working well, primary health care teams could do still more to improve uptake. Why, for example, are rates of breast screening in Grampian lower than those of childhood immunisation and cervical screening (as reported in this week's journal, p 229)? General practitioners are well placed to encourage women to attend for breast screening, and they have received guidelines on improving the quality and uptake of the screening programme and on ensuring that women receive information and counselling. Yet their wholehearted commitment seems doubtful, and Rudiman and colleagues have tried to find out why. The factors that they identify include scepticism about the value of breast screening, lack of involvement with the local breast screening centre, lack of financial incentives to reach targets for breast screening, and lack of time.