Reducing Social Inequalities in Breast Cancer Screening in New South Wales
Author Information
Author(s): Stephen Birch, Marion Haas, Elizabeth Savage, Kees van Gool
Primary Institution: Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney
Hypothesis
Does active targeted recruitment reduce social inequalities in breast cancer screening utilization?
Conclusion
Targeted recruitment and follow-up modestly reduced social inequalities in breast cancer screening utilization, but significant income differences remain.
Supporting Evidence
- Women in higher socio-economic groups are more likely to have been screened than those in lower groups.
- The socio-economic effect is significantly less among women who were in the actively targeted age group.
- Recruitment and follow-up strategies do not affect the opportunity cost of utilizing the service.
Takeaway
The study found that when women are actively encouraged to get screened for breast cancer, it helps some lower-income women get screened more, but there are still big gaps between rich and poor.
Methodology
The study used probit models to analyze data from the 1997 and 1998 NSW Health Surveys, focusing on women aged 40-79 and their screening behavior.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from self-reporting inaccuracies and the use of imputed income data.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data, which may introduce bias, and used imputed income data due to lack of direct income questions in the survey.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 40-79, with a focus on socio-economic status and geographic factors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.021
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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