Women's satisfaction with breast and gynecological cancer screening.

PURPOSES

This study examined women's satisfaction with their breast and gynecological (GYN) cancer screening, clinical breast examination (CBE), mammogram (MAM), and pelvic examination (PE). Selected predictors (characteristics of the exam and characteristics of the health care provider) of satisfaction with their screening exams also were assessed.

METHODS

Women (N = 242) ages 19 years and older were recruited from a residential mailing list, and from church and community organizations. Participants completed questionnaires in their homes or in the community setting where they had been recruited. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the level of women's satisfaction with their most recent exams. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to determine the influence of exam and health care provider characteristics on women's satisfaction with exams.

RESULTS

We found that women were very satisfied with care received during all three screening exams. Women were more satisfied during CBE and PE if they perceived these exams as informative, clear and complete and if they perceived the provider as informative and responsive to them when they ask questions. Women also were more satisfied with all three exams when the provider was perceived as relaxed during these exams.