Recorded presentation

Galatea C King, MPH, Office on Disability and Health, California Department of Health Services, PO Box 997413, MS 7214, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, (916)552-9831, gking1@dhs.ca.gov and Roger Trent, PhD, Epidemiology and Prevention for Injury Control Branch, California Department of Health Services, PO Box 997413, MS 7214, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413.

About 19% of the California population have some kind of disability, approximately 3.0 million of whom are women. Women with disabilities are no different from other women in their need for health screening to detect health problems early. However, research has shown that women with disabilities are less likely than other women to get routine screening for breast cancer.

Using California Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) 2002 and California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2001 data, we investigate the breast cancer screening rates among women with disabilities compared to women without disabilities. The BRFS and the CHIS are random-digit dial telephone surveys administered to the non-institutionalized California population. The two surveys ascertain disability status using similar questions assessing limitations in activity and the use of special equipment. In addition, the BRFS asks respondents whether they receive assistance from other people in performing daily activities.

Results in both surveys show that women with disabilities are as likely to have initially been screened as women without disabilities. However, according to the CHIS, women with disabilities ages 65 and older, are 1.7 times more likely to not adhere to recommended guidelines. Both surveys show that among women 50-64 years of age, women with disabilities are significantly less likely (p<0.05) than other women to receive the screening as part of a routine exam, but rather due to some problem. Further research is needed to explore the environmental and social barriers women with disabilities face that deter them from getting screened on a routine basis.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to

• Define “disability” as it is measured by the 2001 California Health Interview Survey and the 2002 California Behavioral Risk Factor Survey.
• Compare the breast cancer screening practices of women with disabilities to women without disabilities.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation