Mammography screening behavior in older women caregivers

The purposes of this study are to explore older caregivers' mammography participation and the facilitators and barriers to mammography screening. Of the 52 older female caregivers with a mean age of 65 years (range 50-90) interviewed by telephone, 80.8% had had a mammogram within 12 months. Significant facilitators included health care provider recommendation and beliefs in the efficacy of treatment. Significant barriers included health care providers' failure to recommend mammograms, caregiver procrastination, fear of pain, and lack of symptoms. Caregivers with higher burden reported less frequent self- and provider-conducted breast examinations.