Though the vast majority of women are aware of the importance of early screening for various cancers and other life-threatening health conditions, a new survey estimates that nearly half of those in the U.S. have skipped or delayed potentially life-saving tests.
The survey (PDF) was commissioned by Hologic, itself a maker of diagnostic tests and other screening tools focused on women’s health, and included just over 4,000 American women. It found that while 90% of those surveyed know regular screenings are important, more than 40% admitted to postponing or completely skipping recommended tests—a disconnect that Hologic has dubbed the “Screening Action Gap.”
The survey found the size of the gap varied based on race, with Black women significantly more likely than those of other races both to acknowledge that screenings are very important and to not skip or delay those tests.
The likelihood of keeping up with regular screenings also correlated with healthcare professional communication, as those who spoke to their doctors about the importance of early testing were more likely to participate. Unfortunately, those conversations don’t always happen, as the survey found, for example, that only about half of women over 35 have spoken to a doctor about recommended skin cancer screenings, and only 45% have actually undergone the process.
And, even as Black women were more likely overall to keep up with necessary screenings, they fell behind white and Hispanic women in their cervical screening rates, as Hologic noted that Black women were also least likely to have spoken to a doctor about cervical cancer screening.
Across the whole group, the most commonly reported skipped tests were those for breast, cervical and colon cancers, three of the most prevalent forms of cancer, which together are responsible for the deaths of more than 70,000 U.S. women per year, according to Hologic.
The respondents’ reasons for missing regular screenings were many and varied. Among the most popular, with nearly a quarter of the group agreeing, was a lack of awareness about the importance of a particular screening. In total, only about 40% of those surveyed said they feel “very confident” in their knowledge of which tests they should be taking based on their age and risk factors, and many added that they have difficulty finding relevant, useful health information.
Another 20% of women said they didn’t have time for certain screenings. That may tie in with another of the survey’s findings showing that more than 60% said it’s difficult to make their health a top priority—a number that grew to 75% among women with children in their homes—due to feeling overwhelmed or experiencing emotional health barriers.
Finally, 20% of those surveyed reported feeling anxiety about disease screening, and nearly as many cited concerns about potential pain or discomfort associated with the tests. Those two reasons were most common among younger generations, with the highest prevalence among adult Gen Z women surveyed, where nearly 40% joined in on the former and 30% agreed with the latter concerns.
The report builds on Hologic’s annual Global Women’s Health Index, which surveys tens of thousands of girls and women across more than 140 countries and is now in its third year.
The new, smaller survey is Hologic’s first to focus solely on American women, according to Stephen MacMillan, the chairman, president and CEO of Hologic.
“We choose to put energy and resources behind the Global Women’s Health Index because you can only improve what’s measured,” MacMillan said in a statement.
The new report, he continued, “reveals so much about the challenges women face when prioritizing their health. It’s sobering to think that 72 million American women miss life-changing screenings because of cost, anxiety and prior negative experiences. Our hope is that this survey will be the impetus for more screening awareness, education and policy.”