ENTHUSIASM OR UNCERTAINTY - SMALL-AREA VARIATIONS IN THE USE OF MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES IN ONTARIO, CANADA

Study objective-To examine the variation in mammography utilisation in relation to age group and indication across health planning regions i n Ontario, Canada. Design-This study includes all women aged 30 and ov er in Ontario who received a mammogram between July 1, 1990 and Decemb er 31, 1991. Data from a sample of 10 000 women aged 50-69 were used t o assign mammogram indication as ''screening'', ''possible diagnostic' ', or ''probable diagnostic'' based on previous health care utilisatio n patterns. Age specific rates and age adjusted rates in relation to a ge group (30-39, 40-49, 50-69, and 70+years) and region were derived. Main results-Overall, 572 762 women received one or more mammograms. R ates increased from 30 to 54 years and decreased thereafter. Similar v ariations were seen in the 40-49 and 50-69 age groups. The ranking in the area specific rates remained consistent for all ages except the 30 -39 year range. In relation to indication, the largest variation acros s regions occurred in the screening group. Conclusions-Mammography uti lisation varies across age groups. The greatest variability is for scr eening, probably because of physician referral patterns, patient uptak e, and perhaps access to mammography. The extent of variation was simi lar when compared between groups where recommendations were consistent (ages 50-59) and where they were inconsistent (ages 40-49) suggesting that perhaps enthusiasm rather than uncertainty is related to regiona l variation for this procedure.