Measuring the use of mammography: two methods compared.
Population studies often estimate mammography use using women's self-reports. In one North Carolina county, we compared self-report surveys with a second method--counting mammograms per population--for 1987 and 1989. Estimates from self-reports (35% in 1987, 55% in 1989) were considerably higher than those from mammogram counts (20% in 1987, 36% in 1989). We then confirmed 66% of self-reports in the past year. Self-reported use is more accurate regarding whether a woman has had a mammogram than when she had it, but self-reports accurately measure change over time.
Degnan
D
D
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400.
Harris
R
R
Ranney
J
J
Quade
D
D
Earp
J A
JA
Gonzalez
J
J
D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors