Reported barriers to cancer screening: Montana Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2007.
OBJECTIVE
To determine self-identified barriers to cancer screening participation in Montana among respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).


METHODS
The 2007 BRFSS survey.


METHODS
State of Montana.


METHODS
A total of 3433 respondents (2020 women) 50 years and older.


METHODS
Respondents who had never had an endoscopy and women who had not had a recent mammogram were asked why they had not been screened.


METHODS
Associations between health care access variables and screening participation were assessed using chi2 tests. Joint effects of multiple independent predictors of screening participation were assessed using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from multiple logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The strongest predictor of having an endoscopy (OR, 23.62; 95% CI, 18.42-30.28) or recent mammogram (OR, 10.87; 95%, CI, 6.42-18.40) was provider recommendation. The most common reasons for not being screened were respondent's belief that it was not necessary (44% for endoscopy and 39% for mammography), no provider recommendation (22% for endoscopy), and cost (12% for endoscopy and 19% for mammography). Among unscreened respondents whose providers recommended endoscopy and mammography, 30% and 36%, respectively, believed that it was not necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
Many Montanans remain unaware of the importance of cancer screening Health care providers and public health officials must increase patient education, and providers must continue to refer patients for screening.
Ballew
Carol
C
Cancer Control Section, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, 1400 Broadway, Helena, MT 59620, USA. cballew@mt.gov
Cummings
Susan J
SJ
Oreskovich
Joanne
J
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009009:Montana; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*