What healthy women think, feel and do about cancer, prevention and breast cancer screening in Italy

Abstract

In preparation for a major campaign to encourage participation in a breast screening programme for all women between 50-70 years old in Florence, Italy, an in-depth study of 200 women's attitudes and practices regarding cancer and its prevention was undertaken. 72% participated in semistructured interviews, and inclination to participate was analysed in terms of Yes (39%), Uncertain (36%), and No (20%) (5% were unspecified). Age (P = 0.03), area of birth (P = 0.01), education level of husband (P = 0.04) and prior Pap smear (P = 0.00) or mammography (P = 0.00) were among the variables statistically associated with inclination to participate. While the women shared more or less common images of cancer, concern for health, and belief in the importance of God and destiny, those less inclined to participate felt less personally vulnerable, had less faith in medicine's ability to cure or prevent cancer, were more distant from the medical system and culture in general and regarded information about health or illness more as unnecessary or dangerous than beneficial. Understanding and consideration of both "popular" and "medical" cultures need to be encouraged.