Jag tänkte gå, men livet kom emellan: om sex kvinnors val att inte delta i mammografiscreening

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to identify possible reasons for non-attendance related to mammographic screening. Using qualitative methods, sex women underwent a semi-structured interview on the following themes: social background, medical history, mammographic screening, invitation, and final decision. Social background was described using the "life-form theory". The concepts of illness, disease, and sickness were used in order to investigate medical conditions and their impact. The process of non-attendance was studied using a model by Zovko, balancing different needs affecting decisions and final action. According to their decision, and final action, women were defined as "participants", "passive non-attenders" or "active non-attenders". Most women belonged to the life-form "paid work" and had children. Many women had some chronic disease, but only one referred to this as a reason for non-attendance. Some women had experienced pain during earlier examination, but the interviewed women did not regard practical circumstances, such as wording of the invitation letter, cost or lack of time, as important reasons for non-attendance. All women regarded mammographic screening as important, but other things in life were prioritised or had to be dealt with, e.g. recent divorce, disease, or the desire not to cause problems among fellow-workers being absent from work.