Evaluation of an intervention to increase mammography screening in Los Angeles.
METHODS. A randomized pretest post-test control group design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a mail-out intervention for increasing screening mammography rates. A random sample of 802 women, 40+, residing in Los Angeles County, was surveyed by telephone at baseline and again 12 months after the intervention. RESULTS. Fifty percent of the intervention group and 56% of the control group had obtained a screening mammogram during the follow-up period. This difference was not statistically significant, indicating that the low-cost intervention was not successful in influencing screening mammography rates in this sample. In the combined intervention and control group, a stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed four baseline variables to be significant prospective predictors of mammography behavior during the follow-up period: Women who were adherent to the age-specific screening guidelines at baseline and women who had health insurance were more likely to obtain a mammogram during the follow-up, as were older women. Also, women who were greatly concerned about radiation exposure during a mammogram were about two and a half times less likely to obtain a mammogram during the follow-up than women who were less concerned. Self-reported reasons for adherence and nonadherence to screening guidelines are also described.
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Cancer Control 90024.
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R
Bastani
A C
AC
Marcus
A E
AE
Maxwell
I P
IP
Das
K X
KX
Yan
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation