Cultuurafhankelijke beoordeling van leeftijdsgrenzen voor mammografisch screeningsonderzoek: de effectiviteit van gezondheidsvoorlichting in cross-cultureel perspectief

In previous empirical studies it was found that Dutch women could hardly be convinced by experimental health communication leaflets in which they were dissuaded to participate in systematic mammographic screening programs when they are younger than 50. In contrast, the far majority of the Dutch experimental participants accepted with enthusiasm the standpoint that women above 50 should go for a breast cancer screening every other year. The empirical research presented in this article is a replication of the Dutch studies, but now conducted in Ticino (Switzerland). Ticino is a culture that is quite different from Holland regarding the nature of preventive screening on breast cancer: systematic screening in Holland versus opportunistic screening in Ticino. Moreover, in Ticino the mass media pay far less attention to issues concerning breast cancer compared with those in Holland. As predicted, the Swiss participants were more susceptible for the persuasive attempts and experimental manipulations in the health communication leaflets.