A community peer-volunteer telephone reminder call to increase breast cancer-screening attendance.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of a tailored telephone reminder call by community peer volunteers on mammography rates in women who do not attend a breast cancer-screening program.


METHODS
Individual-level randomized trial.


METHODS
Four semirural communities in Belgium.


METHODS
Women aged 50-69 years who had not had a mammogram.


METHODS
Women in the usual care (control) arm received an invitation letter for screening mammography and an information leaflet; women in the intervention arm received usual care as well as a telephone reminder call. The call was tailored on four variables: individual mammography history, mailing of the invitation letter, mammography appointment date, and type of mammography facility in the area (e.g., mobile unit versus fixed site). Community peer volunteers made up to three attempts to call the women in the intervention arm.


METHODS
Mammography rates verified by screening registration review and adverse events identified in contacts with peer volunteers, radiologists, and community workers of local authorities.


RESULTS
A total of 3,880 women were included in the study and individually randomized into control and intervention groups. Phone numbers were identified for 79% of the women in the intervention group, and 69% were contacted. Twenty-two percent had screening mammography, which was 4% higher than controls (relative risk = 1.22). No adverse effects were identified. An additional mammogram came at an average cost of 17 phone conversations and two hours of volunteer work.


CONCLUSIONS
The tested telephone reminder call is suitable for Belgian women.


CONCLUSIONS
The telephone reminder call may be implemented in settings similar to the studied context.
Goelen
Guido
G
Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. gugoelen@vub.ac.be
De Clercq
Gerlinde
G
Hanssens
Sophie
S
D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013689:Telephone; D014838:Volunteers / Q000458:organization & administration