Underutilizers of mammography screening today: Characteristics of women planning, undecided about, and not planning a mammogram

Using concepts from the Precaution Adoption Process Model, we identified be havioral factors, sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, and beliefs about breast cancer that discriminated among women at different stages with regard to their intention to obtain mammography screening. An independent survey company conducted telephone interviews with 2,507 women aged 50 to 8 0 who were identified as underutilizers of mammography screening. Each unde rutilizer was assigned to one of three stages with regard to intention to g et a mammogram: (a) definitely planning, (b) thinking about, and (c) not pl anning. Estimated actual risk of breast cancel; perceived risk to breast ca ncel; worry about breast cancel; and fear of learning from a mammogram that one has breast cancer were variables found to be significantly associated with intention to obtain a mammogram for several subgroups of underutilizin g women. There are significant behavioral and psychosocial variables, belie fs and feelings about breast cancer and demographic characteristics that di stinguish underutilizing women at various stages with regard to intention t o obtain mammography screening. Our findings provide new information that c ould help the health care professional motivate women who are not planning to utilize this preventive health measure to become regular utilizers.