THE ROLE OF THE PHYSICIAN AS AN INFORMATION SOURCE ON MAMMOGRAPHY

PURPOSE: The value of mammography for;asymptomatic women younger than 50 years;us of age has been under debate, and it had treen suggested t hat each woman should decide for herself whether to start having mammo grams in tier 40s. This decision-making process requires women to have knowledge of screening guidelines, This study reported key determinin g informational-factors that led women age 40 and older to obtain a ma mmogram DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: To examine the relationship between: sou rces of information and utilization of mammography, the authors conduc ted a communitywide telephone survey in,English and Spanish, of a stra tified random sample of 999 white, black. and Hispanic nomen in Dade C ounty Florida. The survey was designed to measure knowledge, attitudes , practices, and beliefs about breast cancer, its prevention, and its early detection. Data. for 784 women 40 years and older are analyzed a nd reported here. RESULTS: The most commonly cited source of informati on was the media (90.2%). In a logistic regression, having lid a check up in the past year was the strangest predictor ai having had a recent mammogram as opposed to a distant one (OR 4.17; 95% CI 2.92-5.95). Wo men who named their physician as an important source of information ab out heath and prevention were also more likely to hare had a recent ex amination (OR 1.85: 95% CI 1.21-2.69). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This ana lysis of the relationship between the source of information and utiliz ation of mammography suggests that physicians, as sources of informati on, serve to motivate women to obtain a mammogram. This is true even a fter taking into account the patient's age acid utilization of the hea lthcare system far preventive care in general. For this reason, ii is imperative that clinicians be aware of national guidelines for breast cancer screening; of the risks and benefits of screening measures; and of the implications of a positive and negative test result; In additi on, clinicians must realize the importance of follow-up to remind the patient to obtain a mammogram or other screening test and should devel op strategies to provide this service.