Mammography-facility-based patient reminders and repeat mammograms for Medicare in New York State.
BACKGROUND
Women who receive mammograms may fail to regularly return for repeat mammography. Many mammography facilities send annual patient reminders, but there are no large studies of their impact on overall mammography return rates, or by patient population subgroups.


METHODS
Medicare claims data were used to identify New York women with claims for mammograms during a baseline and an 18-month follow-up period (1999-2000). Receipt of a second mammogram was examined in relation to whether the facility sends annual reminders, while controlling for other patient factors.


RESULTS
Of 97,506 women studied, 76% attended facilities that send annual reminders. Of these women, 74% received a second mammogram within 18 months compared to 67% for other women. The impact of reminders was significant in all subgroups, but was less for women who were younger, minority, in Medicaid, in New York City or who received a diagnostic mammogram. In multivariate analysis, the adjusted odds ratio for return within 18 months if the facility uses reminders was 1.42 (95% CI 1.37-1.47).


CONCLUSIONS
Annual patient reminders from mammography facilities are effective in increasing regular repeat mammography in Medicare women, although their impact is smaller in some groups. Facilities that do not currently send reminders should be encouraged to do so.
Quinley
John
J
Health Care Quality Improvement, IPRO, Lake Success, NY 11042, USA.
Mahotière
Terry
T
Messina
Catherine R
CR
Lee
Ti-Kuang
TK
Mikail
Claudia
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening; D006278:Medicare; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*