Introduction Breast cancer is easily detectable by mammography and many countries run national screening programs for women as a target group. Yet, the majority of these countries have screening participation rates below the recommended level of 70%. Objective The aim of the present article was to examine a connection between existing health practices and a decision to participate during breast cancer screening. Methods Methodologically, this research was a web panel and quantitative telephone survey. The survey was conducted among 1200 Estonian women in the age group 50–69 years. Statistical data analysis was performed with SPSS using a descriptive and logistic regression model. Results The findings revealed that among different background variables, age and existing health practices significantly influenced the decision-making for participating in the screening. Results also highlighted that the possibility to participate in the screening increased with existing supportive health practices and with the increasing age. Other sociodemographic factors did not have a significant influence on the decision-making of participation. Conclusions There is a need to educate people from an early age about the developments in health practices that could support a healthy lifestyle in terms of individual responsibility. Thus, public health campaigns should not only call for action but also focus on health education in terms of the role of preventive medicine and health practices.

Background: Today`s fast-changing world and developments in health care system have indirect or direct effects on communication ethics. More and more unethical situations are faced by health care workers in their professional work. Thus, it is important to address the ethical aspects more seriously already in the learning environment.   Objective: To describe the students` opinions on learning professional ethics. Methods: The methodology combines theoretical and empirical parts, semistructured interviews conducted with 47 students were analysed. Results: All respondents emphasized the importance of learning professional ethics to cope with unethical situations in practice. Students prefer integration of ethics across speciality courses.    Conclusions: Ethical aspects should be more integrated into speciality studies and ethics simulations should be used as teaching methods.

Background: Today`s fast-changing world and developments in health care system have indirect or direct effects on communication ethics. More and more unethical situations are faced by health care workers in their professional work. Thus, it is important to address the ethical aspects more seriously already in the learning environment.   Objective: To describe and analyze students` opinions on ethical aspects in their learning environment, behaviours considered unethical by them and possible reasons behind it. Methods: The methodology combines theoretical and empirical parts, semistructured interviews conducted with 47 students were analysed. Results: Students emphasized lecturers' personal qualities to be more important than general learning environment and the importance of respectful communication was also considered essential. Unethical behaviour is seen as lack of respect and manners from all parties involved. Conclusions: Ethical behaviour and its various aspects should be included into the studies and discussed starting from the first course to ensure ethical learning environment and comminucation between academic staff and students.