Effects of organized screening programs on breast cancer screening, incidence, and mortality in Europe

We link data on regional Organized Screening Programs (OSPs) throughout Europe with survey data and population-based cancer registries to estimate effects of OSPs on breast cancer screening (mammography), incidence, and mortality. Identification is from regional variation in the existence and timing of OSPs, and in their age-eligibility criteria. We estimate that OSPs, on average, increase mammography by 25 percentage points, increase breast cancer incidence by 16% five years after the OSPs implementation, and reduce breast cancer mortality by about 10% ten years after.

Automated summary

This study explores the effects of Organized Screening Programs (OSPs) on breast cancer screening, incidence, and mortality by combining data from regional OSPs in Europe with survey data and population-based cancer registries. The findings suggest that OSPs on average increase mammography by 25 percentage points, increase breast cancer incidence by 16% five years after implementation, and reduce breast cancer mortality by about 10% ten years after.