[Current status of research in breast cancer screening in Spain: implications for prevention]

Abstract

Objective: The consolidation of breast cancer screening programs, with full coverage of the target population in all Spanish regions, has encouraged the beginning of a joint research strategy. This strategy aims to improve the effectiveness of breast cancer screening by gathering information from distinct screening programs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort with information on over 1.5 million screened women was constructed to evaluate risk factors for a false-positive result. The impact of the change from digital mammography to screen-film mammography was evaluated, while results for interval cancers and false negatives are currently being studied.

Results: The results are highly useful from the perspective of public health, as they can be used to identify and improve the information provided to women with a higher risk of experiencing an adverse effect. These results will also be helpful to identify screening program-related characteristics and women's personal characteristics, which will allow better prevention strategies to be developed.

Conclusions: The results obtained will be included in mathematical models currently under development to evaluate the efficiency of breast cancer screening. These models could be highly useful to provide information and guide clinical and health policy decisions on cancer prevention and control.