Title

Mammography use among sociodemographically diverse women: the accuracy of self-report

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine

Publication Date

7-1-1996

Document Type

Article

Subjects

African Americans; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged; Correspondence as Topic; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Insurance, Health; Mammography; Massachusetts; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Socioeconomic Factors; Telephone

Disciplines

Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. This study sought to determine the accuracy of self-report of mammography experience among 392 ethnically diverse women aged 50 to 74. METHODS. Subjects were randomized to the telephone or mail condition and surveyed. RESULTS. Thirty-one percent of women reported accurately the exact month and year of their most recent mammogram; 54% reported accurately within +/- 3 months, and 83% reported accurately within the year. Greater accuracy was associated with exam recency, White race, and non-Hispanic ethnicity, but not with age, education, or income. Most women could correctly report the reason for, the findings of, and the payor of their mammograms but knew little about how much they or their insurance paid. CONCLUSIONS. For population surveillance of mammography in the past year, self-report data are generally valid. However, clinical studies requiring more precise dates must use such data with caution. The telephone method, as compared with mail, appears to be a better option for some variables.

Source

Am J Public Health. 1996 Jul;86(7):1016-21.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

American journal of public health

Related Resources

Link to article in PubMed

PubMed ID

8669504

Link to Full Text

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