Abstract
The benefits of cancer screening in the elderly are uncertain. While the risk of cancer increases with age the participation in cancer screening decreases. The study investigated the attitudes of older adults towards cancer screening as well as their motives for or against participation. This population-based explorative mixed methods study was based on a survey of residents aged 69-89 years from the district of Western Pomerania-Greifswald (northeast Germany). Criteria for exclusion were cognitive deficits and/or cancer. Attitudes towards different statements regarding cancer screening were assessed by a questionnaire using 5-point Likert scales. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the motivations. Out of 630 contacted residents, 120 (19%) with an average age of 77 years (SD ± 6 years) participated in the face-to-face survey. The majority were in favor of lifelong cancer screening, 14% stated other health problems to be more important than cancer screening and 7% assumed that they would not live long enough to benefit from screening. Motives for participation in cancer screening were habit, regularity, sense of obligation, fear and belief in benefits. Motives for discontinuing screening included a lack of interest, no assumed necessity and fear. Disadvantages were not feared. Elderly people show great trust in cancer screening. They overestimated the benefits of cancer screening and their risk to die of cancer. The elderly should be better informed about the benefits and risks of cancer screening. Shared decision-making should be based on life expectancy and personal preferences.
Highlights
The benefits of cancer screening in the elderly are uncertain
The study investigated the attitudes of older adults towards cancer screening
This populationbased explorative mixed methods study was based on a survey of residents aged 69-89 years
Summary
In dieser explorativen Mixed-methodsStudie wurden in „Face-to-face“-Befragungen mit einem standardisierten Fragebogen quantitative Daten und mit einem leitfadengestützten Interview qualitative Daten erhoben. Es wurden 1566 Personen aus dem Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald mit einer stratifizierten Stichprobe (Alter, Geschlecht) über das Einwohnermelderegister gezogen, von denen 630 per Post kontaktiert wurden. Durch Telefoninterviews wurden Personen mit kognitiven Einschränkungen, die mithilfe des „Callahan Six-item screener“ ermittelt wurden [3], oder mit einer Malignomerkrankung in der Anamnese ausgeschlossen Model für den Fragebogen war eine amerikanische Pilotstudie [11]. Zusätzlich wurden an das deutsche Gesundheitssystem angepasste Fragen zur Inan-. Doris Dolezil und Annekathrin Haase haben zu gleichen Teilen zu dieser Publikation beigetragen
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