Abstract
The results of workplace breast cancer screenings conducted by the Chugoku Occupational Health Association from April 2006 to March 2013 were gathered, and factors influencing the screening rate were examined. In total, 27,750 people underwent screening, of which 72.4% underwent clinical breast examination (“CBE”) and mammography (“MMG”), 20.4% only MMG, and 7.2% only CBE. Over this period, there were 41 cases of breast cancer, all MMG examinees. In total, 25,755 people underwent MMG, with 46.9% doing so for the first time. Among those who underwent CBE and MMG, 7.4% required a close examination, of which 74.7% returned for one; the discovery rate was 0.179%. Among those who underwent only MMG, 6.7% required a close examination, of which 72.4% returned for one; the discovery rate was 0.088%. Among those who underwent only CBE, 2.0% required a close examination, of which 35.0% returned for one; the discovery rate was 0.000%. A major factor affecting CBE is hesitation by the examinees, and there are also problems on the examination side, such as the difficulty of securing physicians and managing accuracy, and the limited number of physicians implementing CBE. A reduction in the death rate of persons who underwent only MMG was recognized. As MMG-only screenings have come to be promoted even at workplaces, examinees can be screened more easily, resulting in increased detection of the cancer. These improvements are thought to be effective also for subsidizing costs and increasing the screening rate. Although workplace breast cancer screening is convenient for working women and facilitates continued screenings, coordination with workplaces is important to make the screenings effective. A mechanism for linking workplaces with screening agencies while protecting personal information needs to be built.
