Establishing a statewide mammography database in Arkansas: overcoming the barriers

To determine patterns of mammography utilization in Arkansas, the Arkansas Mammography Data Collection Project (MDCP) was established. The project's objective was to compile into one database statewide information about mammograms performed. All mammography centers were invited to participate in the project. Many barriers were encountered that were center related, data related, or personnel related; different interventions were implemented for each barrier. At the conclusion of the project, 92 out of 112 centers (82%) participated in the project, creating a database of 157,976 mammography data sets. Identifying and overcoming many of the barriers were crucial steps in the project's success.