Use of patient reminder letters to promote cancer screening services in women: A population-based study in Wisconsin.
BACKGROUND
Patient reminder letters are an effective method of promoting cancer screening services in women; however, information on their actual use in a population setting is lacking.


METHODS
Data were obtained from a population-based, random digit dial telephone survey of 896 adult women living in Wisconsin. Respondents were asked if they had received a reminder letter for Pap or mammography screening within the past year.


RESULTS
Among women aged >/=18 years, 12.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 10.1-15. 6) received a Pap test reminder within the past year, while 13.0% (95% CI = 9.3-16.7) of women aged >/=40 years received a mammography reminder. Women without health care coverage were unlikely to receive either type of reminder. Current compliance with screening recommendations was greater among those women who received a reminder letter for Pap tests (94.3 versus 78.1%, P < 0.0001) and for mammography (81.7 versus 59.4%, P < 0.001). In contrast to the infrequent use of cancer screening reminders, 54.2% (95% CI = 50. 1-58.3) and 72.7% (95% CI = 67.6-77.8) of women reported receiving a reminder letter from their dentist or veterinarian, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Reminder letters for cancer screening services were rarely utilized in this study population. Receipt of a reminder letter was associated with greater compliance with current screening recommendations.
Reeves
M J
MJ
Division of Field Epidemiology, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Reevesm@state.mi.us
Remington
P L
PL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014922:Wisconsin; D016387:Women's Health