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Potential impact of male mammographers on breast cancer screening rates

The NHS breast screening programme only employs female mammographers to carry out breast screening. However, the screening service is experiencing a shortage of staff and introducing male mammographers into the service is a potential solution.

A new study aimed to determine if the introduction of male mammographers would impact screening acceptance rates.

A questionnaire was completed online by 1,000 women aged 50-71. It explored what women would do if offered a test with a male mammographer and how they felt about the potential change.

Over half (53.4%) of respondents stated they would attend a routine mammogram if the mammographer was male. Approximately 15 per cent said they would attend if a female chaperone was present. Over 31 per cent said they would refuse to attend for screening.

Interviews suggested women view routine breast screening differently to other healthcare interactions because it is an optional service and not a treatment. As a result, participants had higher expectations both in terms of expecting a choice over the gender of the mammographer and a need to feel comfortable.

The findings indicate that the percentage of eligible women attending breast screening may decrease if male mammographers were introduced.

“This impact of introducing male mammographers would need to be carefully weighed up against the potential gains in workforce numbers in opening up mammography to male practitioners,” the authors advised.


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