Distance to screening site and non-participation in screening for breast cancer: a population-based study.

Background: In population-based breast cancer screening programmes, the geographical distance to the screening site may influence a woman's propensity to participate. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect driving distance to the screening unit had on women's participation in a breast cancer screening programme.
Methods: All women invited to the first round of breast cancer screening in the Central Denmark Region were eligible for inclusion (n = 149,234). Information on participation was collected from a regional administrative database. The shortest road distance between each woman's residence and her affiliated screening site was assessed using Network Analyst, ArcGIS.
Results: The unadjusted association between distance and non-participation formed a J-shape curve. Adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics caused the J-shape to disappear, and the probability of non-attendance rose with longer distance to the screening site but flattened after ~45 km. Women without access to a vehicle had a higher risk of non-participation than women with access to a vehicle.
Conclusions: A long road distance to the screening site was associated with an increased risk of non-participation. Women without access to a vehicle were at higher risk of non-participation than women who had access to a vehicle.
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