Content of invitations for publicly funded screening mammography

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Abstract
Information versus high uptake When a society decides to offer cancer screening, eligible citizens need to be made aware of the programme. A letter of invitation is a common approach, and it seems obvious to use this letter to provide balanced information about benefits and harms of screening, particularly since there is international consensus that participation in cancer screening should be based on informed consent.3 w3 w4 However, in countries with publicly funded screening, those responsible for the success of the programme are also those who provide the information. Herein lies a potential conflict of interest. High participation rates are pivotal to any screening programme, but information about potential harms may deter women from participation. How many women understand the full implications of screening? Credit: GARO/PHANIE/REX