Geographic access and the use of screening mammography Journal Article
| Authors: | Elkin, E. B.; Ishill, N. M.; Snow, J. G.; Panageas, K. S.; Bach, P. B.; Liberman, L.; Wang, F.; Schrag, D. |
| Article Title: | Geographic access and the use of screening mammography |
| Abstract: | Background: Screening mammography rates vary geographically and have recently declined. Inadequate mammography resources in some areas may impair access to this technology. We assessed the relationship between availability of mammography machines and the use of screening. Methods: The location and number of all mammography machines in the United States were identified from US Food and Drug Administration records of certified facilities. Inadequate capacity was defined as <1.2 mammography machines per 10,000 women age 40 or older, the threshold required to meet the Healthy People 2010 target screening rate. The impact of capacity on utilization was evaluated in 2 cohorts: female respondents age 40 or older to the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey (BRFSS) and a 5% nationwide sample of female Medicare beneficiaries age 65 or older in 2004-2005. Results: About 9% of women in the BRFSS cohort and 13% of women in the Medicare cohort lived in counties with <1.2 mammography machines per 10,000 women age 40 or older. In both cohorts, residence in a county with inadequate mammography capacity was associated with lower odds of a recent mammogram (adjusted odds ratio in BRFSS: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80-0.98, P < 0.05; adjusted odds ratio in Medicare: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.85-0.87, P < 0.05), controlling for demographic and health care characteristics. CONCLUSION: In counties with few or no mammography machines, limited availability of imaging resources may be a barrier to screening. Efforts to increase the number of machines in low-capacity areas may improve mammography rates and reduce geographic disparities in breast cancer screening. Copyright © 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. |
| Keywords: | adult; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; major clinical study; united states; sensitivity analysis; cohort studies; breast cancer; cohort analysis; cancer screening; mass screening; health care utilization; medicare; mammography; screening; health care access; geography; behavioral risk factor surveillance system; health care disparity; ultrasonography, mammary; health services accessibility; geographic distribution; access; geographic information systems (gis); diagnostic equipment |
| Journal Title: | Medical Care |
| Volume: | 48 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| ISSN: | 0025-7079 |
| Publisher: | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
| Date Published: | 2010-04-01 |
| Start Page: | 349 |
| End Page: | 356 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181ca3ecb |
| PUBMED: | 20195174 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC3647348 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "CODEN: MDLCB" - "Source: Scopus" |
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