Galatea C King, MPH, Office on Disability and Health, California Department of Health Services, PO Box 997413, MS 7214, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, Roger Trent, PhD, Injury Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, EPIC Branch, California Department of Health Services, 611 N. 7th Street, MS 39A, P.O. Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, and Rosemary E. Hoban, RN, MPH, Community Resources for Independent Living, 439 'A' St., Hayward, CA 94541, 510-881-5743 x29, rose.hoban@cril-online.org.

Although regular screening has been demonstrated to increase early detection of breast and cervical cancer, studies have shown that women with physical disabilities are less likely than women without disabilities to participate in screening on a regular basis, particularly as they age. In addition to the same barriers to screening that women without disabilities face, women with disabilities have added challenges, including lack of accessibility to healthcare facilities and equipment (such as height-adjustable exam tables and mammography machines). Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) is developing and implementing Screen for Life!, an intervention aimed at increasing screening rates for breast and cervical cancer among women with physical disabilities who are 40 or older. This presentation will describe the intervention, comprised of a multifaceted approach that includes: 1) a theory-informed workshop curriculum, 2) a theory-informed peer counseling telephone session, and 3) phone call reminders. Core messages and workshop activities are intended to increase screening among women who have never been screened or who are beyond recommended screening guidelines for mammography and Pap smears. Outcome objectives include: 1) increasing knowledge, 2) positively changing attitudes, 3) increasing self-efficacy, 4) providing a model for effective self-advocacy, and 5) creating social support for making and keeping screening appointments. Qualitative data will be collected and analyzed to determine which steps of the intervention were most effective in increasing screening rates, and to further elucidate barriers to and facilitators for screening.

Learning Objectives: Session participants will be able to

• identify barriers to and facilitators for cancer screening among women with physical disabilities,
• differentiate between internal and external barriers to screening, and
• apply lessons learned to developing evaluation research and/or public health interventions for women living with disabilities.

Keywords: Disability Studies, Cancer Screening

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.