Screening mammogram utilization: free offer versus structured information

One in nine American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Despite widely available early detection programs, many women still do not participate in regular screening mammography. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of an education intervention on rates of mammography utilization. Fourteen women were in the control group and 11 in the experimental group. All were over the age of 35 and had never had a mammogram. Barriers of cost and need for physician referral were removed for both groups. Analysis showed no significant difference between groups on demographic variables or use of mammography 1 month after experimental intervention. A cautionary note is added that 1 month is a short period of time for collecting outcome data of this nature.