RELATIONSHIP OF AGE TO MAMMOGRAPHY COMPLIANCE

Mammography use varies by age, with older women showing decreased use. The purpose of this research was to identify variables that affect sc reening use within two different age groups of women, those younger th an 50 and those 50 and older. Predictor variables were identified usin g the Health Belief Model and Theory of Reasoned Action and included s usceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, health motivation, con trol, social influence, and experiential/demographic variables. A prob ability sample of 581 women aged 35 and older was included for analyse s. Two measures of mammography compliance were tested: compliance with American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for the 5 years before the s tudy and compliance with the ACS guidelines for the year before the st udy. An in-home interview was conducted by graduate research assistant s. Compliance rates were significantly lower for women 50 and older th an they were for younger women for bath the 5-year compliance and the single year of compliance. Barriers were more significant far older wo men. Having a mammography suggested by a health care professional was most important in the older group, indicating that less weight may be given to personal decision making by this population. Higher socioecon omic status was significant with older but not younger women. For olde r women, interventions need to be directed toward both the physician a nd the individual woman. Programs that provide knowledge and address c ost issues may be the most important primary components for younger wo men.