title: Prospective association between distress and mammography utilization among women with a family history of breast cancer.
abstract: In this study we sought to evaluate the prospective association between psychological distress and mammography utilization among women with a family history of breast cancer. We evaluated the association of cancer worry, cancer-specific distress, and general distress with mammography utilization after controlling for potential confounders. The results revealed that 74% of our sample had obtained a mammogram within 12 months of the baseline assessment. Logistic regression models revealed that after controlling for potential confounding variables, cancer worry and general distress were independent predictors of mammography utilization. Specifically, women who reported higher levels of worry and/or distress at baseline were less likely to report having received a mammogram in the 12 months following the baseline assessment. These results are in contrast to the only other prospective study in this population. Additional research is needed to determine the prospective association between distress and adherence and to identify potential mechanisms for such an association.
authors.affiliation: Lombardi Cancer Center and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. schwartm@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Kristen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Willard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health