Moving mammogram-reluctant women to screening: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Effective interventions are needed for women long overdue for screening mammography.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to pilot test an intervention for motivating overdue women to receive a mammogram.


METHODS
Subjects aged 45-79 without a mammogram in > or =27 months and enrolled in study practices were identified from claims data. The intervention included a mailed, educational booklet, computer-assisted barrier-specific tailored counseling and motivational interviewing, and facilitated, short-interval mammography scheduling.


RESULTS
Of 127 eligible women, 45 (35.4%) agreed to counseling and data collection. Most were > or =3 years overdue. Twenty-six (57.8%) of the counseled women got a mammogram within 12 months. Thirty-one (72.1%) of 43 counseled women moved > or =1 stage closer to screening, based on a modified Precaution Adoption Process Model.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to reach and counsel women who are long overdue for a mammogram and to advance their stage of adoption. The intervention should be formally evaluated in a prospective trial comparing it to control or to proven interventions.
Costanza
Mary E
ME
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA. Mary.Costanza@umassmed.edu
Luckmann
Roger
R
White
Mary Jo
MJ
Rosal
Milagros C
MC
LaPelle
Nancy
N
Cranos
Caroline
C
D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016387:Women's Health