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Table 2 Comparison of Health Beliefs between attendees and non-attendees

From: Predicting reattendance to the second round of the Maltese national breast screening programme: an analytical descriptive study

Attendance to the second breast screening invitation

Yes

No

Total

Chi-Square testa

Health Beliefs

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

χ2

p-value

There is no possibility of getting breast cancer (r)

1.8

0.6

2.2

0.7

1.9

0.6

0.3

0.041*

Your chances of getting breast cancer are high

3.6

0.7

3.5

0.7

3.6

0.7

1.1

0.789

There may be the possibility of developing breast cancer in your lifetime

4.0

0.3

3.9

0.4

4.0

0.3

3.8

0.147

When you get a mammogram, you feel good about yourself

4.0

0.3

3.9

0.5

4.0

0.4

6.5

0.088

When you get a mammogram, you do not worry as much about breast cancer

3.8

0.7

3.7

0.7

3.8

0.7

1.2

0.759

Having a mammogram will help you find lumps early in your breasts

4.2

0.5

4.1

0.5

4.2

0.5

3.3

0.355

If you find a lump through a mammogram, the treatment for breast cancer may not be as bad

4.0

0.4

4.0

0.2

4.0

0.3

1.2

0.750

Having a mammogram will decrease your chances of dying from breast cancer

4.0

0.4

3.9

0.4

4.0

0.4

4.3

0.227

Having a mammogram will help you find a lump before it can be felt by yourself or a health professional

4.0

0.4

3.9

0.4

4.0

0.4

3.3

0.344

Having a routine mammogram would make you anxious about breast cancer

2.7

1.0

3.0

1.1

2.8

1.0

1.6

0.449

Having a routine mammogram would make you worry

2.7

1.0

2.9

1.1

2.7

1.0

1.5

0.685

You fear having a mammogram because you might find out that something is wrong

2.8

1.1

3.2

1.2

2.9

1.1

6.2

0.103

You fear having a mammogram because you do not know the procedure or what to expect

2.1

0.5

2.4

0.8

2.2

0.6

4.8

0.092

You fear having a mammogram because you know someone (family or friend) with breast cancer

2.6

1.1

2.7

1.2

2.6

1.1

0.6

0.907

It is embarrassing for you to have a mammogram

2.3

0.8

2.4

0.9

2.4

0.8

0.5

0.779

Undergoing mammography will be painful or uncomfortable

3.2

1.0

3.3

1.1

3.2

1.0

11.9

0.008*

Having a mammogram is time consuming

1.3

0.5

1.3

0.7

1.3

0.5

3.8

0.153

You are discontent with Breast Screening personnel as they have been rude to you

1.1

0.4

n/a

n/a

1.1

0.4

n/a

n/a

You have fear or distrust in the medical team

1.7

0.8

2.0

0.8

1.8

0.8

4.7

0.094

Having a mammogram would expose you to unnecessary radiation

2.2

0.6

2.4

0.8

2.3

0.7

1.6

0.652

You have too many other problems in your life than to get a mammogram done

1.7

0.6

1.8

0.7

1.7

0.6

0.7

0.699

You are not old enough to have a mammogram periodically

1.8

0.4

1.8

0.4

1.8

0.4

0.9

0.344

If your GP advises you to attend for a mammogram, you will attend

4.4

0.5

4.1

0.6

4.3

0.6

9.1

0.028*

If your relatives or friends advise you to attend for a mammogram, you will attend

3.6

0.9

3.3

1.0

3.5

0.9

1.9

0.586

If someone close to you has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you will attend for a mammogram

4.3

0.9

4.2

0.9

4.3

0.9

0.9

0.826

Hearing about breast cancer and breast screening in the media or news makes you think about getting a mammogram

3.6

0.8

3.4

1.0

3.6

0.9

1.7

0.418

Reminder letters would help you to get a mammogram

4.0

0.3

3.7

0.8

3.9

0.5

8.1

0.017*

Reminder phone calls or text messages would help you to get a mammogram

4.0

0.3

3.7

0.8

3.9

0.5

8.1

0.017*

Routine educational talks regarding breast cancer awareness would help you to get a mammogram

3.6

0.8

3.4

1.0

3.6

0.9

1.7

0.418

You feel confident that if you had a mammogram done, any abnormalities in your breasts will be detected

3.7

0.6

3.5

0.7

3.7

0.6

3.1

0.378

You can arrange other things in your life to get a mammogram

4.2

0.6

4.0

0.9

4.1

0.7

6.2

0.103

In case you need a mammogram, you will find a place to get it done

4.2

0.5

4.1

0.5

4.2

0.5

3.3

0.355

You can make an appointment for a mammogram

4.2

0.5

4.2

0.5

4.2

0.5

3.3

0.355

You can arrange transportation to get a mammogram

4.2

0.5

4.2

0.5

4.2

0.5

3.3

0.355

You can talk to people at the breast screening centre about your concerns

4.1

1.0

n/a

n/a

4.1

1.0

n/a

n/a

You can find a way to pay for a mammogram if you need to

4.3

0.4

4.2

0.5

4.2

0.5

2.9

0.234

  1. R Reverse scored
  2. *Significant at α = 0.05
  3. aChi-square test was applied for all health beliefs; hence the categorical answers were used to apply this test for association. For each question, respondents were asked to select a number between 1 and 5, where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree