Table 1 Characteristics of respondents

	Sample		Population
Characteristic	n	%	%	Data source
Patient age group (years)
70–74	200	43	30	ONS, 2007^a
75–79	134	29	27
80–84	71	15	21
85+	60	13	22
Total	465	100	100
Lives alone
No	275	58
Yes	202	42
Total	477	100
Functional status
Independent	359	76
Dependent	112	24
Total	471	100
Any long-term health problem
No	59	12
Yes	420	88
Total	479	100
Any tablets or medicines taken regularly
No	53	11
Yes	426	89
Total	479	100
Previously had breast cancer
No	434	95
Yes	23	5	12	Can Res UK, 2008^b
Total	457	100
Any relatives had breast cancer
No	333	77
Yes	97	23
Total	430	100
Do you examine your breasts
No	129	27
Yes	349	73
Total	478	100
Attended breast screening regularly between 50 and 70 years of age
No	121	27
Yes	328	73	73	NHS BSP, 2007/8^c
Total	449	100

^a ONS Mid-2007 Population Estimates: England; estimated resident population by single year of age and sex.
^b Cancer Research UK. Approximately 12% of the UK female population aged ⩾65 years have had a diagnosis of breast cancer. Source: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/incidence/#prev.
^c NHS Breast Screening Programme Annual Review 2009. Breast screening acceptance rates in 2007/8 for women aged 50–70 years.

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