The interaction of perceived risk and benefits and the relationship to predicting mammography adherence in African American women.
OBJECTIVE
To test the interaction of perceived risk and benefits and how they impact stage of mammography readiness and adherence.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Community gathering centers and healthcare clinics across Indiana.


METHODS
299 African American women who had not had a mammogram in more than 18 months.


METHODS
In-person interviews were used to collect data on sociodemographics, health belief variables, and stage of readiness to undertake mammography screening. Four categories were created to measure the combined magnitude of high or low levels of perceived risk and benefit, with health belief variables linked to modified mammography screening behavior.


METHODS
Perceived risks and benefits, stage of readiness, and mammography adherence.


RESULTS
The lowest rate of mammography adherence was in women with a high perceived risk and low perceived benefit toward mammography adherence (26%). The highest rate of adherence was in women with a high perceived benefit and low perceived risk (46%). Differences in mammography adherence were statistically significant between the groups (p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The interaction of high perceived risk and low perceived benefits impacted readiness to undergo screening mammography.


CONCLUSIONS
Reducing disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and survival requires timely and efficient mammography adherence. African American medically underserved women with high perceived risk and low perceived benefits exhibited a reluctance to move forward with mammography adherence. Interventions are needed to increase the perception of mammography benefit and to subsequently reduce breast cancer mortality rates in that population.
Research Support Services at Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical Translational Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. alecia.fair@vanderbilt.edu
Alecia Malin
AM
Fair
Patrick O
PO
Monahan
Kathleen
K
Russell
Qianqian
Q
Zhao
Victoria L
VL
Champion
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors