Breast cancer screening in Europe
What is the point of the situation in breast cancer screening in Europe? Are there official screening recommendations in every country? Are there financial incentives related to this screening? Are we giving the correct information about harms and benefits of this screening to European women?
Rosália Páscoa and Emmily Schaubroeck collected these data on behalf of EUROPREV network.
Until now, we have data from seventeen countries, but we will continue to update this information set.
You may consult detailed information about each country by following the hyperlink:
Belgium | Croatia | Czech Republic | Denmark | France | Germany | Israel | Ireland | Italy | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Slovenia | Spain | Netherlands | Ukraine | United Kingdom
Belgium
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link: Flemish Region and Walloon Region
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Croatia
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? Yes
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Czech Republic
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: ≥ 45 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have an active role, they are the ones who invite women to the screening and who prescribe the mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Denmark
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes
France
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-74 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? Yes
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? Yes
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes
Germany
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes
Ireland
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening: General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Israel
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-74 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link(page 136).
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? Yes
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes
Italy
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years (Tuscany region: 45-74 years)
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Poland
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening: General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Portugal
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? Yes
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? Yes
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Romania
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: No screening recommendations
Screening method: No screening recommendations
Screening frequency: No screening recommendations
Recommendations available in this link: No screening recommendations
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening: No screening recommendations
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No screening recommendations
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No screening recommendations
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No screening recommendations
Slovenia
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
Spain
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link. Leaflet available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes
The Netherlands
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-75 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes
Ukraine
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-69 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 2 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? No
United Kingdom
Summary of recommendations for women at average risk (without a personal or family history of breast or ovary cancer):
Target age group: 50-71 years
Screening method: mammography
Screening frequency: every 3 years
Recommendations available in this link.
Role of the general practitioners/family physicians in breast cancer screening:
General practitioners/family physicians have a more passive role, only advise women on breast cancer screening if patients ask (otherwise women are invited by the breast cancer screening program) and are not directly involved in the prescription of mammography.
Financial incentives to perform breast cancer screening (for example, is it involved as an indicator in a pay per performance system)? No
Is breast cancer screening associated with any kind of quality indicator to assess general practitioners/family physicians’ work (or primary health care team’s work)? No
When women are invited to undergo breast cancer screening, do they receive information about possible harms related to this screening (e.g., overdiagnosis, false positives)? Yes