Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Mammography Among Women Using an Urban Public Hospital

Although overall use of mammography is steadily increasing, low-income and minority women consistently have relatively lower screening rates than white, middle-class women. To assess the mammography-seeking behavior of low-income women using an urban public hospital, this study sought to understand...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 1997-05, Vol.8 (2), p.186-201
Main Authors: Thompson, Beti, Montaño, Daniel E, Mahloch, Jan, Mullen, Mary, Taylor, Victoria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Appointments and Schedules
Attitudes
Cancer
Data Collection - methods
Emotions
Female
Females
Focus Groups
Health Behavior
Health Care Surveys - methods
Health Care Utilization
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hospitals, Municipal - utilization
Humans
Income
Interviews as Topic
Low Income Groups
Low income women
Mammography
Mammography - psychology
Mammography - utilization
Middle Aged
Minority Groups - psychology
Outpatient Clinics, Hospital - utilization
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology
Poverty
Seattle, Washington
Urban areas
Urban Population
USA
Washington
Women
Womens Health Care
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Summary:Although overall use of mammography is steadily increasing, low-income and minority women consistently have relatively lower screening rates than white, middle-class women. To assess the mammography-seeking behavior of low-income women using an urban public hospital, this study sought to understand why women in this population decide whether or not to obtain a screening mammogram. Two qualitative techniques, elicitation interviews and focus groups, were used to develop an understanding of attitudes, concerns, and barriers of this group relative to mammography. Fear, embarrassment, susceptibility to breast cancer, inconvenience, cost, concerns about efficacy of mammography, fear of acquiring cancer, and scheduling difficulties were identified as important concerns. "People in the news" were the most influential social referents for mammography decision making, followed by physicians, family members, and friends. The insights gained from these women will assist in developing interventions that encourage mammography-seeking behavior by low-income women.
ISSN:1049-2089
1548-6869
1548-6869
DOI:10.1353/hpu.2010.0320