Determinants of (non-)attendance at the Dutch cancer screening programmes: A systematic review

In systematic reviews, perceived control in personal health choices and high self-efficacy to attend screening are positively associated with screening.

“In systematic reviews, perceived control in personal health choices and high self-efficacy to attend screening have been positively associated with screening [7,10,11,14].”

Not remembering to book an appointment was one of the main reasons for non-attendance in the Netherlands.

“Respectively, not remembering to book an appointment was one of the main reasons for non-attendance in the Netherlands (Kingdom of the) [7].”

Country of birth and immigration status are associated with lower screening attendance in Denmark and the Netherlands.

“Country of birth and immigration status have been associated with lower screening attendance in Denmark and the Netherlands (Kingdom of the) [7,18,33], likely due to language barriers and cultural beliefs [32].”

In a Dutch review, non-attenders reported experiencing greater negative social influences than attenders.

“In a Dutch review, non-attenders reported experiencing greater negative social influences than attenders.They reported negative role models (e.g., close friends or family members not attending screenings) and talked less with other people about cancer screening [7].”

Social supports facilitate self-efficacy, which in turn is associated with screening attendance.

“Such supports are important because they facilitate self-efficacy, which in turn is associated with screening attendance [7,10,11,14].”

Lack of knowledge of screening programmes can be a barrier to CRC screening.

“the lack of knowledge of screening programmes [7] can be barriers to screening.”

Primary care providers' or general practitioners' endorsement might be particularly important for subpopulations, e.g., immigrants.

“Primary care providers' or general practitioners' (GP) endorsement, encouragement and recommendations to attend cancer screening are often key [e.g., 15,28,35], and might be particularly important for subpopulations, e.g., immigrants [7].”

Social circles can also be a barrier to screening.

“Social circles can also be a barrier.In a Dutch review, non-attenders reported experiencing greater negative social influences than attenders.”

Non-attenders reported negative role models and talked less with other people about cancer screening.

“In a Dutch review, non-attenders reported experiencing greater negative social influences than attenders.They reported negative role models (e.g., close friends or family members not attending screenings) and talked less with other people about cancer screening [7].”

Embarrassment or shame can hinder CRC and CC screening.

“Embarrassment or shame can hinder CRC and CC screening [7,15,30].”

In the Netherlands, CC screening studies have reported higher rates with GP-based reminders and invitations, especially among women born outside the country.

“In the Netherlands (Kingdom of the), CC screening studies have reported higher rates with GP-based reminders and invitations, especially among women born outside the country [7].”

For women, perceiving CRC as a male disease has been a barrier for screening.

“For women, perceiving CRC as a male disease has been a barrier for screening [7,9].”