Breast and cervical cancer screening: knowledge, attitudes and behavior among schoolteachers in Italy.

The study explores knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding screening for breast and cervical cancers. All female teachers in primary and secondary schools in Crotone and in Cassino (Italy) received a questionnaire on demographic and so-cioeconomic characteristics, clinical history, know-ledge, behavior and attitudes about breast and cervical cancer and related screening procedures. A response rate of 65% was achieved. Knowledge on e€ectiveness of mammography and pap test in ®nding related cancers was widely spread in the sample. Only about 30% and 50% had respectively undergone their last mammogram and pap test ac-cording to the recommended time interval. Having been examined by a physician in the previous year and having had a screening CBE or a screening pap smear in the past three years were signi®cantly more likely in women who underwent mammography for screening purposes in the past two years. Pap smear in the previous three years was signi®cantly more likely in women in their forties, with a higher family income and in those who had been examined by a physician in the previous year. The results strongly recommend continued emphasis of physicians on education of women regarding mammography and pap smear.