Background Evidence indicates that although first-degree relatives of breas
t cancer cases are at increased risk of developing the disease themselves,
they may be underutilizing screening mammography. Therefore, interventions
to increase the use of mammography in this group are urgently needed.
Methods. A randomized two-group design was used to evaluate an intervention
to increase mammography use among women (N = 901) with at least one first-
degree relative with breast cancer. A statewide cancer registry was used to
obtain a random sample of breast cancer cases who identified eligible rela
tives. The mailed intervention consisted of personalized risk notification
and other theoretically driven materials tailored for high-risk women.
Results. An overall significant intervention effect was observed (8% interv
ention group advantage) in mammography at post-test. There was an interacti
on of the intervention with age such that there was no effect among women <
50 years of age and a fairly large (20% advantage) effect among women 50+ a
nd 65+. Health insurance, education, and having had a mammogram in the year
before baseline assessment were positive predictors of mammography at post
-test. Perceived risk, calculated risk, and relationship to index cancer ca
se were not associated with mammography receipt.
Conclusion. The intervention was successful in increasing mammography rates
among high-risk women 50+ years of age. Further work is needed to determin
e why it was ineffective among younger women. (C) 1999 American Health Foun
dation and Academic Press.