title: Relationships of practitioner communications and characteristics with women's mammography use.
abstract: Women have reported not seeking mammography because their practitioners do not recommend it. The purposes of this study were to delineate which dimensions of practitioner communications and characteristics predicted women's mammography use. In a longitudinal, correlational design, participants were 797 mid-western women, aged 51-80 years, who had not had mammograms in the prior 13 months. Practitioner communications and characteristics and women's subsequent mammography use were assessed through telephone interviews with participants. Controlling for pre-existing differences, communications and characteristics were entered in a hierarchical logistic regression on mammography use. Practitioner-specific communications predicted mammography use (e.g. endorsement, encouragement, and assistance with scheduling) as well as having internists as identified practitioners. Practitioners' mammography-specific communications can promote mammography among women who have not used it often in the past. Practitioners--especially those who are not internists--can examine whether their interactions are conducive to fostering mammography use.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, K6/350 CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-2455, USA. drlauver@facstaff.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Diane Ruth
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lauver
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Linda Sue
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lovejoy
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations