Abstract
Background:There is limited information about participation in organised population-wide screening programmes by people with disabilities.Methods:Data from the National Health Service routine screening programmes in England were linked to information on disability reported by the Million Women Study cohort participants.Results:Of the 473 185 women offered routine breast or bowel cancer screening, 23% reported some disability. Women with disabilities were less likely than other women to participate in breast cancer screening (RR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.62–0.65) and in bowel cancer screening (RR=0.75, 0.73–0.76). Difficulties with self-care or vision were associated with the greatest reduction in screening participation.Conclusion:Participation in routine cancer screening programmes in England is reduced in people with disabilities and participation varies by type of disability.
Highlights
ObjectivesGiven that the UK 2010 Equality Act requires equitable access to all National Health Service (NHS) screening programmes, our aim was to investigate disparities in participation in breast and bowel screening related to specific types of disability in a large prospective cohort of women in England
There is limited information about participation in organised population-wide screening programmes by people with disabilities
Women with disabilities were less likely than other women to participate in breast cancer screening (RR 1⁄4 0.64, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.62–0.65) and in bowel cancer screening (RR 1⁄4 0.75, 0.73–0.76)
Summary
Given that the UK 2010 Equality Act requires equitable access to all National Health Service (NHS) screening programmes, our aim was to investigate disparities in participation in breast and bowel screening related to specific types of disability in a large prospective cohort of women in England
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