Sociodemographic and health-related predictors of self-reported mammogram, faecal occult blood test and prostate specific antigen test use in a large Australian study

Abstract

BackgroundWhile several studies have examined factors that influence the use of breast screening mammography, faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) for bowel cancer screening and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests for prostate disease in Australia, research directly comparing the use of these tests is sparse. We examined sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with the use of these tests in the previous two years either alone or in combination.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of self-reported questionnaire data from 96,711 women and 82,648 men aged 50 or over in The 45 and Up Study in NSW (2006–2010).Results5.9% of men had a FOBT alone, 44.9% had a PSA test alone, 18.7% had both tests, and 30.6% had neither test. 3.2% of women had a FOBT alone, 56.0% had a mammogram alone, 16.2% had both and 24.7% had neither test. Among men, age and socioeconomic factors were largely associated with having both FOBT and PSA tests. PSA testing alone was largely associated with age, family history of prostate cancer, health insurance status and visiting a doctor. Among women, age, use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), health insurance status, family history of breast cancer, being retired and not having a disability were associated with both FOBT and mammograms. Mammography use alone was largely associated with age, use of HRT and family history of breast cancer. FOBT use alone among men was associated with high income, living in regional areas and being fully-retired and among women, being fully-retired or sick/disabled.ConclusionsThese results add to the literature on sociodemographic discrepancies related to cancer screening uptake and highlight the fact that many people are being screened for one cancer when they could be screened for two.

Prostate cancer screening in Switzerland: 20-year trends and socioeconomic disparities

“…In addition and in line with previous reports (Drazer et al, 2011(Drazer et al, , 2015Finney Rutten et al, 2005;Fitzpatrick et al, 1998;Hiatt et al, 2002;Ross et al, 2005;Swan et al, 2003Swan et al, , 2010Weber et al, 2013), practitioner visit in the last 12 months, age, being married or in couple, overweight, and smoking were consistently and independently associated with PCa exam.…”

“…This is in line with previous studies performed in developed countries including Sweden, which also has free health care and no organized PCa screening program (Cullati et al, 2009;Drazer et al, 2011Drazer et al, , 2015Finney Rutten et al, 2005;Hiatt et al, 2002;Karlsen et al, 2013;Morgan et al, 2013;Rapiti et al, 2009;Robinson et al, 1996;Ross et al, 2005;Rundle et al, 2013), although it contrasts with studies conducted in Australia (Weber et al, 2013;Weller et al, 1998). The importance of considering SES when interpreting time trends in PCa exam has been previously emphasized (Liu et al, 2001).…”

“…These socioeconomic disparities did not significantly change over time. Prevalence and trends are similar to other developed countries such as Australia and the United States (Drazer et al, 2015;Swan et al, 2003Swan et al, , 2010Weber et al, 2013). One out of 2 men aged 60 years or more had had a PCa exam within the past two years.…”

“…We did not find such trends in 2012 in Switzerland. Lack of time can be a barrier to cancer screening but contrary to a previous report (Weber et al, 2013), respondents who were out of labor force were not more likely to be screened than their counterparts. Analysis restricted to respondents in labor force showed greater use of PCa exam among respondents with occupation class higher than an overseer, qualified, skilled worker.…”

“…Temporal patterns of PCa screening by SES in Switzerland have not been investigated, which is of particular interest given that the use of PCa screening has been shown to vary by SES in other developed countries (Carrasco-Garrido et al, 2014;Dimitrakaki et al, 2009;Ross et al, 2007;So et al, 2014;Tabuchi et al, 2015;Weber et al, 2013). In general cancer screening is most frequent among individuals belonging to high SES because of better knowledge and higher access to medical care.…”