Patient and clinical site factors associated with rescreening behavior among older multiethnic, low-income women

Our goal was to identify factors predictive of mammography rescreening within 18 months of baseline screening in multiethnic, low-income older women.

We interviewed a cross-sectional survey of staff of 102 randomly selected clinics that provided screening and diagnostic services. We also surveyed a random sample of 391 older women served by these clinics to retrospectively assess their experiences of the screening process.

We found that 59% of the sample returned for a repeat mammogram. Education level and the belief it is important to get an annual mammogram were significant patient-level predictors of rescreening. Offering pap smears and using hands-on demonstrations with breast models were significant clinic-level variables predictive of rescreening. Of note, among the variables that did not prove significant in the final model were those reflecting ethnicity and income.

Individual and health-care-delivery-system factors play important roles in the obtaining of regular mammograms by low-income women. These findings highlight the importance of both factors in improving rescreening rates among older women.