Abstract
<p><em>Long travel distances/times to a mammography service may act as a barrier that hinders women from seeking screening mammography on a recommended schedule. Average weekday trip length data from the New South Wales Travel Survey was compared with the average distance women travelled to a mammography service, the difference was tested using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. The distance travelled to mammography services was statistically greater than the average week day trip length from the New South Wales Travel Survey (4.3 km, 95% CI 3.3 to 5.9 kms, p,0.001). This study has identified that within New South Wales there is a significant difference between average week day trip length travel and client travel to mammography services. Therefore, highlighting that women are undertaking a greater than normal travel burden to access mammography services. The comparison of normal weekday travel and travel to mammography services has enabled the burden of travel to mammography services to be identified. Reducing the burden of travel to mammography services is pivotal to increasing the utilization of mammography services and reducing the inequalities in health comes.</em></p>
Highlights
In Australia, population-based breast cancer screening is available through BreastScreen Australia, which targets women aged 50-74 for 2 yearly free screening mammograms; women aged 40-49 and 75 and over are eligible to attend, but are not actively targeted (AIHW, 2018)
This study has identified that within New South Wales there is a significant difference between average week day trip length travel and client travel to mammography services
The distance travelled to a mammography service was statistically greater than the average trip length per the New South Wales Travel Survey (4.3 km, 95% CI 3.3 to 5.9 kms, p,0.001)
Summary
In Australia, population-based breast cancer screening is available through BreastScreen Australia, which targets women aged 50-74 for 2 yearly free screening mammograms; women aged 40-49 and 75 and over are eligible to attend, but are not actively targeted (AIHW, 2018). Delayed or lack of participation in screening leads to cancers being detected at advanced stages where treatment options are limited, and their survival outcomes are poorer (Breast Cancer Network Australia and National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2016). This disparity causes inequality among Australians who all have the right to accessible healthcare (Breast Cancer Network Australia and National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2016). For women with limited geographic access to services, travel time may be an important factor in the type of services received in some phases of care along the cancer control continuum (Onega et al, 2011). Investigating the difference between average weekly day travel and client travel to mammography services will highlight where clients are undertaking further than normal travel to access services and carrying a greater travel burden
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