Evidence-Based Information on Mammography Screening in Austria – Reality or More Pie in the Sky?

 

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Abstract

Introduction:

Health literacy is gaining increasing importance in prevention and health care. This is the case for patients and for health-care professionals. Information and risk communication should comply with defined criteria and strengthen health literacy as they are a prerequisite for informed decision making.

Methods:

In this study, we analyse the content of the printed information material (brochures and pamphlets) on mammography screening for consumers that were distributed in Austria in 2011.

Results:

The evaluation of the 11 brochures shows that the content does not comply with the prerequisites for informed decision making.

Conclusions:

Since the last study – published in 2004 – the situation has only slightly improved. The authors reemphasise the need for a targeted multimodal information campaign. This is particularly important as a systematic national mammography screening program in compliance with the guidelines of the European Commission will be introduced in Austria in 2013.

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung:

Health Literacy gewinnt in der Prävention und in der Gesundheitsversorgung zunehmend an Bedeutung. Dies gilt für Patienten/Patientinnen aber auch für die Gesundheitsberufe. Die Gesundheitskompetenz wird durch Information und Risikokommunikation geför­dert. Sie sollten definierten Standards ent­sprechen und sind damit wichtige Voraussetzung für die Entscheidungsfindung von Frauen und Männern.

Methoden:

In der vorliegenden Studie analysieren wir den Inhalt aller 2011 in Österreich vorhandenen gedruckten Informationsmateria­lien zum Mammografie-Screening für die Zielgruppe der Endverbraucherinnen.

Ergebnisse:

Die Auswertung der insgesamt 11 Informationsmaterialien für Endverbraucherinnen zeigt, dass die Inhalte nicht den Standards für eine informierte Entscheidung genügen.

Schlussfolgerungen:

Seit der letzten Untersuchung 2004 hat sich die Informationslage nur wenig verbessert. Bekräftigt wird die Notwendigkeit einer gezielten, multimodalen Informations­offensive. Dies ist zentral, da Österreich ein Nationales Mammografie-Programm-Screening mit 2013 einführen will, welches den Leitlinien der Europäischen Kommission entsprechen soll.

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