Variability in the timing of repeat screening mammography
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C Jepson1, J L Barudin, J R Weiner
1University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia 19144, USA. cjepson@pobox.upenn.edu
Background:
Although numerous studies have examined repeat mammography, they provide limited information about actual patterns of women's behavior over time.
Methods:
In this study, 128 asymptomatic women ages 50 to 75 who had had their first mammograms 15 to 27 months previously were interviewed to determine rates of repeat mammography. Eighty-six of these women were HMO members; the remaining 42 were nonmembers.
Results:
In both subpopulations, repeat mammography rates were low among women interviewed less than 21 months after their first mammogram, but much higher among those interviewed 21 months or more afterward.
Conclusions:
These data suggest that waiting up to 2 years to have a second mammogram may be at least as common a choice as having it after 1 year. It is of particular interest that this was found in a population of HMO members who receive reminders and vouchers for free mammograms annually.