IJE Advance Access originally published online on May 30, 2008
International Journal of Epidemiology 2008 37(6):1326-1332; doi:10.1093/ije/dyn090
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Use of breast cancer screening and treatment services by Australian women aged 25–44 years following Kylie Minogue's breast cancer diagnosis
1 Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
2 St Vincent's Breast Screen, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
3 Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
4 Key Centre for Women's Health in Society, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
5 Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
* Corresponding author. Centre for Health Policy, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3010, Australia. E-mail: mkelaher{at}unimelb.edu.au
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Abstract |
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Objective To examine the effects of the publicity surrounding Kylie Minogue's diagnosis with breast cancer on doctor-referred breast imaging, image-guided biopsy, and cancer excisions among a low-risk population of women in Australia.
Method We examine changes in unilateral and bilateral breast imaging, image-guided breast biopsies, and surgical excisions of breast cancer before and after the announcement of Kylie Minogue's diagnosis with breast cancer in May 2005. The study included procedures provided through the Australian public health system to women aged 25–44 years from October 2004 and June 2006.
Results The odds of women aged 25–44 years undergoing imaging procedures increased by 20% in the first and second quarters after the Minogue publicity, compared to the preceding two quarters. The volume of biopsies als increased but the biopsy rate, measured as a proportion of imaging procedures, did not change among women aged 25–34 years and decreased among women aged 35–44 years. The volume of operations to excise breast cancers did not change for either age group. Compared to the 6 month period before the publicity, there was a large and significant decrease in the odds that an excision would follow biopsy (25–34 years: OR 95% CI=0.69, 0.48–0.98; 35–44 years: OR 95% CI=0.83, 0.72–0.95).
Conclusions High-publicised illnesses may affect both consumer and provider behaviour. Although they present opportunities to improve public health, they also have the potential to adversely impact the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of service delivery.
Keywords Mass media, health promotion, practice guidelines
Accepted 29 April 2008
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