title: Evaluation of the Avon Foundation community education and outreach initiative Community Patient Navigation Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Black women in the United States experience disproportionate breast cancer mortality. Culturally appropriate community education on the importance of breast health coupled with the availability of free or low-cost mammography screening services may help improve the use of mammography screening services among Black women. The Avon Foundation Community Patient Navigation Program seeks to fill this need. The current study presents a process and outcome evaluation of this program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trained and uniformed community patient navigators (PNs) host breast health education events where they recruit community members to complete a mammography interest form. Participants are referred to a nurse practitioner who determines eligibility for a free or low-cost mammogram. The community PN delivers telephone follow-up to encourage participants to make and keep their mammogram appointments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a 15-month period, 22 community PNs hosted 207 breast health events, which included 9,601 attendees. Three hundred and four participants completed a mammography interest form, and 21% of these individuals received mammograms at the collaborating health facility. Participants who reported breast symptoms were twice as likely to get a mammogram as those who did not report symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community patient navigation may be a useful resource for encouraging mammography screening among underserved women.
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Winifred Wilkins
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabram-Mendola
authors.forename: Kimberly R Jacob
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Arriola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005582:Foundations; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult