Mammography screening after risk-tailored messages: the women improving screening through education and risk assessment (WISER) randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
A randomized trial investigated the impact of risk-tailored messages on mammography in diverse women in the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System's gynecology clinics.


METHODS
From 2003 to 2005, 899 patients > or =40 years of age were randomized to receive risk-tailored information or general information about breast health. Multiple logistic regression analyses summarize their breast health practices at 18 months.


RESULTS
At baseline, 576 (64%) women reported having a mammogram in the past year. At 18-month follow-up, mammography rates were 72.6% in the intervention group and 74.2% in the control group (N.S.). Women (n = 123) who reported worrying about breast cancer "often" or "all the time" had significantly higher mammography rates with the intervention (85.0%) vs. the controls (63.5%). No significant differences existed in clinical breast examination, self-examination, or mammography intentions between the two study arms. However, intervention women with lower education reported significantly fewer clinical breast examinations at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The brief intervention with a risk-tailored message did not have a significant effect overall on screening at 18 months. However, among those who worried, mammography rates in the intervention group were higher. Individual characteristics, such as worry about breast cancer and education status, may impact interventions to improve breast cancer prevention practices.
Bodurtha
Joann
J
Human and Molecular Genetics, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. bodurtha@vcu.edu
Quillin
John M
JM
Tracy
Kelly A
KA
Borzelleca
Joseph
J
McClish
Donna
D
Wilson
Diane Baer
DB
Jones
Resa M
RM
Quillin
Julie
J
Bowen
Deborah
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014495:Universities; D014768:Virginia; D014932:Women's Health Services