Wednesday, 18 July 2001
Dr Jim Vause Deputy President
GPs offer simple, proven answer to meeting breast screening targets
General Practice has the potential to dramatically increase the percentage of women opting to be screened for breast
cancer if it were properly funded to target the problem, says the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners.
Deputy President Dr Jim Vause points to an effort undertaken by staff in his own practice, which dramatically increased
the number of women in the target 50 to 65 age group who opted to be screened, and says similar results could be
achieved throughout New Zealand.
“Before we commenced, 13 percent of eligible women were self-referring to Breast Screen South, despite the extensive
advertising of the programme,” Dr Vause says. “So we went through our patient database identifying women in the target
age group without a previous history of breast cancer. Those women were then contacted by practice staff, the benefits
of screening were explained, and their permission was sought to enrol them in the screening programme. The enrolment
list was then sent to Breast Screen South.” As a result of the practice’s efforts, 91 percent of eligible women opted to
be screened.
“Similar results have also been demonstrated in the pilot projects where GPs have been involved. While there would be
some regional variation across the country, General Practice could easily – and relatively inexpensively – ensure that
the vast majority of women who ought to undergo breast screening, do so,” Dr Vause says. “It cost our practice a few
thousand dollar, some of which was funded by Breast Screen South. If the government and the Minister are serious about
their belief in the efficacy of primary care and preventative health, then an investment in funding General Practice to
undertake this kind of work – and not just in breast screening – is clearly justified on both public health and fiscal
grounds.”
ends
Contact: Dr Jim Vause (03) 578-0470 Dr Helen Rodenburg (04) 383-6972 or (021) 650-203 or:
Rex Widerstrom (04) 496-5962 or (025) 549-637