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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Age, Health Beliefs and Breast Cancer Screening Program Participation in Valencian Community, Spain

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BACKGROUND: Age has a significant bearing on health beliefs related to participating in breast cancer screening programs. This study is aimed at analyzing the breast cancer-related beliefs and attitudes influencing screening program participation among different age groups. METHODS: In a transversal study, a comparison is drawn between the health-related beliefs of a group of women participating in a screening program and a group of non-participating women, taking into account three age ranges (under age 50 (N = 279), 50-60 age range (N = 463), and over age 60 (N = 271). RESULTS: Some variables significantly differ between the participating and non-participating women solely in certain subgroups: perceived severity (50-60 age group: F = 5.14; p < 0.01); perceived benefits (under age 50: F = 8, 18; p < 0.01; over age 60: F = 4.54; p < .05); mammogram-related attitude (under age 50: F = 56.67; p? .001; over age 60: F = 18.42; p < 0.001); professional health checkups (under age 50: F = 11.30: p < 0.01) and luck or chance (under age 50: F = 3.78; p < 0.05; 50-60 age group: F = 4.29; p < 0.001). More specific beliefs, assessed by items from these scales, are also statistically significant (p < 0.05), although only for certain age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Women's breast cancer prevention program participation related beliefs and/or attitudes differ in terms of their age.