Recorded presentation

Amanda Greene, PhD, MPH, RN, NOVA Research Company, 4600 East-West Hwy, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-986-1891, agreene@novaresearch.com, Celeste Torio, MPH, Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, and Ann C. Klassen, PhD, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205.

BACKGROUND: Although the numbers of African-American women who are ‘ever’ screened for breast cancer has increased, sustaining regular screening over a lifetime remains a problem. We developed a well-screened index to measure adherence to sustained breast cancer screening and then explored social and psychological factors associated with sustained screening in African-American women. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 576 African-American women from a large East Coast city. An index measuring adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines was developed and tested (Cronbach’s alpha =0.70). Respondents were dichotomized into well-screened and not well-screened groups. Logistic regression models were used to examine relations between breast cancer knowledge, sociodemographic and attitudinal factors, and sustained mammography screening. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the women were well-screened. However, 30% of not well-screened participants stated that they had no plans to have a mammogram within the next two years. In the multivariate model, women who were well-screened were significantly more likely to report recent physician contact (OR 3.19), Pap smear (OR 3.57), dental visit (OR 1.78), history of breast problems (OR 5.93), and beliefs that screening should be done annually (OR 2.21), and that early detection improves outcomes (OR 2.60). Women reporting poor health were less likely to be well-screened (OR 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of these urban African-American women are building lifetime patterns of regular breast cancer screening. Focused efforts are now needed to achieve sustained screening patterns in the 25% who are not regularly screened.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Participants will be able to identify the different domains of measuring adherence to mammography screening.
• 2. Participants will be able to describe components of the well-screened index, which measures screening adherence in African-American women.
• 3. Participants will be able to discuss knowledge, sociodemographic, and attitudinal factors that are related to sustained mammography screening in African-American women.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Mammography 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.

Recorded presentation