Loss-framed minimal intervention increases mammography use.
BACKGROUND
Although mammography is the most effective early detection breast cancer screening technology available, it is underutilized. This study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a loss-framed minimal intervention to increase mammography use. Loss-frame refers to a communication strategy in which messages are framed from the perspective of what a person has to lose by not taking a particular behavioral action.


METHODS
Participants were medically un- and underinsured women 50-64 years old who called one of two urban clinics randomly selected based on demographic statistical equivalency. The women who participated telephoned to inquire about a mammogram during the 6-month study period. The group randomly designated as the experimental group received a loss-framed message conveyed by trained staff telephonically. Members of the comparison group received the "usual" communication, also conveyed telephonically. In the experimental group, 31 of 112 (27%) women who inquired received mammograms, whereas 157 of the 992 (16%) comparison group women who inquired received mammograms.


RESULTS
The odds of a mammogram, adjusted for race and breast cancer symptoms, significantly increased for the experimental (odds ratio [OR] = 1.914, chi2 = 7.48, p = .0063, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-3.05) versus comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
A loss-framed, in-reach, minimal intervention approach holds promise as a mammography promotion strategy.
Abood
Doris A
DA
Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-1493, USA. dabood@mailer.fsu.edu
Black
David R
DR
Coster
Daniel C
DC
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data