Improving cancer screening among lesbians over 50: results of a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the impact of two one-hour lesbian-specific educational interventions by a lesbian physician on the cancer screening behaviors of lesbians.


METHODS
A pilot pre- and post-test intervention study.


METHODS
Two lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered senior organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area (one urban, one suburban).


METHODS
36 participants aged 50-81 (meanX = 60.2, SD = 6.48). The majority were Caucasian (86%), single (61%), living in urban areas (67%), employed (56%), and educated beyond high school (meanX = 15.47 years, SD = 2.90, range 9-21). Eleven percent (n = 4) did not have any health insurance and were not on Medicaid or Medicare.


METHODS
A lesbian physician led a one-hour, didactic, lesbian- specific educational program on cancer screening, including a review of current research findings with regard to lesbians' risk for cancer and 45 minutes of information on recommended cancer screening, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period. Participants completed a pre- and postintervention survey.


RESULTS
Follow-up data were available for 22 women. Of the six women (27%) who had not focused their attention on breast screening behaviors for two years or more, one-third had obtained mammograms and half began performing monthly breast self-examinations. Of the four women (18%) who had not undergone a pelvic examination for three years or more, one obtained a pelvic examination. The women reported no changes in colorectal cancer screening behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
Some of these difficult-to-reach women changed their behavior in a very short period of time, supporting the need for a larger study to confirm these findings.


CONCLUSIONS
A need exists to develop appropriate interventions for the underserved population of lesbians older than 50.
Dibble
Suzanne L
SL
Lesbian Health Research Center, Institute for Health and Aging, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. sdibble@itsa.ucsf.edu
Roberts
Stephanie A
SA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000451:nursing; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data