Determinants of Compliance in a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial on Screening of Breast and Cervix Cancer in Mumbai, India

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the efficacy of screening by low-cost technology in down-staging and reduction of mortality due to breast and cervix cancer. Methods: The present trial is a community-based, cluster randomised controlled cohort study on screening for breast and cervix cancers (clinical breast examination and visual inspection of the cervix after application of 4% acetic acid). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses are conducted to identify the predictors of compliance to referral among screen-positive women and to treatment among cancer cases. Results: The compliance to diagnostic investigations is 73% among screen-positive women referred for breast cancer and 79% among women referred for cervix cancer. Younger women, women working in service or being self-employed, school level-educated women, mother tongue Marathi, participation in screening in all 3 rounds and women referred as screen positive for cervix cancer had higher compliance to diagnostic investigations. The compliReceived: January 10, 2008 Accepted: January 10, 2008 Published online: April 11, 2008 Oncology Mishra Gauravi, MD, DPH, DHA Department of Preventive Oncology, 5th Floor, Annexe Bldg., R. No. 8 Tata Memorial Hospital, E. Borges Marg, Parel Mumbai 400 012, Maharashtra (India) Tel. +91 22 2415 7532, Fax +91 22 241