Effect of a community health center intervention on breast cancer screening among Hispanic American women.
OBJECTIVE
A multiple component intervention in a community health center is presented, and its effect on breast cancer screening participation by Hispanic American women between the ages of 45 and 75 years is discussed.


METHODS
In 1990, data were collected through a retrospective audit (at least as far back as 1987) of community health center medical records, as well as from a client referral log. The health center, located in a small Massachusetts city, primarily serves clients of Latino heritage.


METHODS
The study used a nonexperimental pretest-posttest intervention design to document clients' screening activities. To control for uneven length of enrollment, aging of the population, and sporadic utilization, the unit of analysis chosen for the principle study variables was an "eligible year."


METHODS
Variables of interest included screening (clinical breast exam and mammography), periodicity of screening, and compliance with referrals.


RESULTS
Postintervention, considerably greater screening mammography occurred among all age groups, more women had at least one screening mammogram during the period, more clinical breast exams included a mammogram referral, and the compliance rate improved. The rate of clinical breast exam did not significantly improve, showing a downward trend.
University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
J G
JG
Zapka
D R
DR
Harris
D
D
Hosmer
M E
ME
Costanza
E
E
Mas
R
R
Barth
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012306:Risk