Response to breast health screening program at a not-for-profit clinic for working poor, uninsured, ethnically diverse women.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Examine the effect of an ongoing breast health screening program, at a not-for-profit, non-government assisted, volunteer clinic, specifically examining mammography usage and to discover variables to improve the rate of mammography.

BACKGROUND

Detection of breast cancer in women of low socio-economic status, lacking health insurance, can be improved by increasing annual mammography rates, yet little is known about their screening behaviour.

DESIGN

Quantitative, retrospective subject-controlled study.

METHODS

Subject-controlled, longitudinal study of English and Spanish-speaking women 40 years old and over, working poor, and uninsured, who participated in a comprehensive screening program that included a 7-minute breast health educational DVD (n = 223).

RESULTS

Radiology records, breast health behaviours and beliefs indicated 76% of women invited for a second test completed it over a year after viewing the educational DVD. Chi-square and t-test indicated two significant findings for completing annual mammography in the 12th month: receiving a reminder postcard and scoring lower on perceptions of breast cancer susceptibility. Two significant findings for completing annual mammography even if late are knowledgeable about screening recommendations and ethnically identifying as Hispanic.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows statistically significant actions that can be undertaken to strengthen programs: reminder postcards, assessing susceptibility score and screening recommendation education.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Simple, inexpensive interventions encourage working, uninsured, Hispanic women to complete mammography.