Women's experience of the information provided along with invitation to participate in BreastScreen Norway.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore how women aged 50-69 invited to BreastScreen Norway perceived the information provided along with the invitation letter, as well as time spent on reading this information.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was sent, as a paper-based form along with a physical invitation letter, or as a link to a digital form in a digital invitation letter, to 84,543 women invited to BreastScreen Norway in 2022. The paper-based forms were handed in upon screening attendance. The women were invited to screening by physical or digital invitation including an information leaflet describing benefits and harms, or a link to similar information on a webpage. The questionnaire assessed women's perception of the information and time spent on reading it. Responses were presented by screening invitation type (physical/digital).

Results: A total of 9.9% (8355/84,543) of the women responded to the questionnaire. Among women invited by a physical letter, information about the screening examination and about benefits and harms was considered sufficient by 90% (4338/4797) and 89% (4246/4790), respectively, and 92% (4246/4790) reported the information to be sufficient to make an informed decision on participation. Among those invited digitally, the percentages were 83% (2788/3379), 78% (2618/3369), and 88% (2962/3370), respectively. About 59% (4807/8169) spent <5 min reading the information.

Conclusions: Most of the respondents perceived the information received upon invitation to BreastScreen Norway sufficient to make an informed decision on participation and used <5 min to read the information. The results should be interpreted with caution due to the low response rate.