Trends in time to completion of mammographic screening and follow-up services.
OBJECTIVE
The popular press has raised questions about mammographic capacity in the United States, but mammographic utilization data have not been used to inform these concerns. We used data for the period 1995-2002 from the New Mexico Mammography Project to assess trends in time to completion of mammographic screening and follow-up services.


CONCLUSIONS
The median time to return mammographic screening changed little over time, but trends in the time required to complete recommended follow-up services varied by type of service and urban or rural residence. Further monitoring of time required to complete screening and follow-up services in other regions can inform debates on mammographic capacity.
Yabroff
K Robin
KR
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Executive Plaza North, Rm. 4005, 6130 Executive Blvd., MSC, Bethesda, MD 73445, USA.
Ashbeck
Erin
E
Rosenberg
Robert
R
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies