Primary Care Physician Said Key to Whether Patients Get Mammograms

The relationship between a woman over age 50 and her primary physician may be the key to whether she gets routine mammograms and clinical breast exams, according to researchers at Eastern Washington University.

Researchers studied the factors linked with preventive breast cancer screening in 1,850 women age 50 and older, comparing insurance type, physician characteristics, and other variables among the women along with screening behaviors in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

"This study indicates that a number of items appear to impact whether women receive secondary preventive screening for breast cancer," said the study published in Preventive Medicine.

Average income, insurance type/lack of insurance, provider type, long waiting times and poor communication among physicians and staff and the patient were found to be significant predictors of screening in the study group.

The researchers found that access to screening seemed to improve over the years, as access issues became less important predictors of screening rates. Screening rates increased from 34.5 percent in 1992 to 52.4 percent in 1994, showing a possible effect of education programs.

"This study suggests that in the presence of vigorous education programs, and when efforts are made to reduce financial barriers, the relationship between the patient and their healthcare provider is the most important determinant as to whether mammograms and clinical breast exams are conducted," said the researchers.

Other sources: Preventive Medicine, Reuters