What is the relationship between breast cancer risk and mammography screening? A meta-analytic review.
This meta-analytic review addresses the issue of how a woman's risk of breast cancer relates to the likelihood that she will obtain mammography screenings. Studies that compared women with or without a family history of breast cancer (n = 19) showed that women with a family history were more likely to have been screened. Studies that measured perceived risk (n = 19) showed that feeling vulnerable to breast cancer was positively related to having obtained a screening. Studies that compared women who did or did not have a history of breast problems (n = 10) showed that those with a positive history were more likely to have been screened. Finally, studies that measured worry (n = 6) showed that greater worry was related to higher screening levels. Taken together, these data suggest that increasing perceptions of personal vulnerability may increase screening behavior for breast cancer.
McCaul
K D
KD
Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105, USA. mccaul@badlands.nodak.edu
Branstetter
A D
AD
Schroeder
D M
DM
Glasgow
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors