Characteristics of the sample
| Characteristic | Total n=1888 | |
| n | (%) | |
| Overdiagnosis information | ||
| Breast screening text | 987 | (52.3) |
| Prostate screening text | 901 | (47.7) |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 879 | (46.6) |
| Female | 1009 | (53.4) |
| Ethnicity | ||
| White British | 1432 | (75.8) |
| Other ethnic groups | 456 | (24.2) |
| Marital status | ||
| Married or living as a couple | 1133 | (60.0) |
| Single, widowed, divorced or separated | 755 | (40.0) |
| Highest level of education* | ||
| No formal qualifications | 281 | (14.9) |
| Approximately level 1, 2 or 3 | 890 | (47.1) |
| Approximately level 4 | 507 | (26.9) |
| Other | 199 | (10.5) |
| Don’t know/not sure | 11 | (0.6) |
| Social class grade† | ||
| Grade A or B | 386 | (20.4) |
| Grade C1 or C2 | 931 | (49.3) |
| Grade D or E | 571 | (30.2) |
| Personal diagnosis of cancer | ||
| Yes | 98 | (5.2) |
| No | 1790 | (94.8) |
| Knows someone with cancer | ||
| Yes | 1113 | (59.0) |
| No | 771 | (40.8) |
| Don’t know/not sure | 4 | (0.2) |
| Any previous cervical screening experience | ||
| Yes | 652 | (34.5) |
| No | 226 | (12.0) |
| Not eligible | 1010 | (53.5) |
| Any previous breast screening experience | ||
| Yes | 317 | (16.8) |
| No | 83 | (4.4) |
| Not eligible | 1488 | (78.8) |
| Any previous bowel screening experience | ||
| Yes | 293 | (15.5) |
| No | 181 | (9.6) |
| Not eligible | 1414 | (74.9) |
| Any previous prostate screening experience | ||
| Yes | 77 | (4.1) |
| No | 344 | (18.2) |
| Not eligible | 1467 | (77.7) |
| Previously read a screening leaflet | ||
| Yes | 1058 | (56.0) |
| No | 809 | (42.8) |
| Don’t know/not sure | 21 | (1.1) |
| Previously read an NHS screening website | ||
| Yes | 324 | (17.2) |
| No | 1549 | (82.0) |
| Don’t know/not sure | 15 | (0.8) |
| Discussed screening with doctor/nurse | ||
| Yes | 624 | (33.1) |
| No | 1251 | (66.3) |
| Don’t know/not sure | 13 | (0.7) |
| Previously read or heard similar information | ||
| Yes | 662 | (35.1) |
| No | 1185 | (62.8) |
| Don’t know/not sure | 41 | (2.2) |
| Perceived clarity of information | ||
| Extremely clear | 170 | (9.0) |
| Very clear | 636 | (33.7) |
| Moderately clear | 685 | (36.3) |
| Slightly clear | 206 | (10.9) |
| Not at all clear | 191 | (10.1) |
*Level 1–3 qualifications include, for example, GCSEs and A Levels; level 4 qualifications include degrees and higher degrees.
†Social grades are based on occupation (eg, grade A includes managerial roles; grade E includes casual workers).
GCSEs, General Certificate of Secondary Education; NHS, National Health Service.