title: Changes in knowledge, attitudes and behavior of women participating in a community outreach education program on breast cancer screening.
abstract: A community-based intervention project on Long Island was supported by the National Cancer Institute to increase the use of mammography and breast physical examination among older women. During a 1-year period 526 women aged 50 and older attended educational sessions presented by the project staff conducted in the community in a variety of settings. Sixty-eight percent (355) of the women who participated provided identifying data and completed pre- and post-session surveys while 40% (210) also completed a mail survey 6-12 months later. Screening behavior improved subsequent to the intervention, at follow-up 61% had taken some related action. More than half of the 109 women who had a mammogram after attending the session indicated that the presentation influenced them to do so. The use of a game created a positive atmosphere for conveying information about a sensitive subject and encouraged discussion among women who had a variety of experiences with screening.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Forsyth
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishna
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation