Fee structure as a determinant of patient's choice to undergo mammography

Mammography, although an effective screening tool, has generally been underutilized. Although many factors may contribute to low utilization rates, the degree to which fee structure influences women's decision to have mammography has not been determined. This study compared women having mammography at the regular fee with those women having mammography at a special reduced rate. The study group consisted of all women having mammography for eight consecutive months at a new mammography screening clinic. The clinic had specifically been established for self-referral. Women from both groups when compared to the general population in the surrounding area tended to be in a higher educational/socioeconomic level. Women in the regular fee group reported physician influence as being most important in their decision to have mammography while women in the reduced fee group reported the reduced fee of mammography itself as the most important factor. Books and magazines were the second most important factor for both the regular and reduced fee group with regard to their decision to have mammography.