© 2007 American Public Health Association DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.076349
At the time of this study all authors were with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Beth A. Jones, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College Street, PO Box 208034, New Haven, CT 065102084 (e-mail: beth.jones{at}yale.edu)
Objective. We examined whether African American women were as likely as White women to receive the results of a recent mammogram and to self-report results that matched the mammography radiology report (i.e., were adequately communicated). We also sought to determine whether the adequacy of communication was the same for normal and abnormal results. Methods. From a prospective cohort study of mammography screening, we compared self-reported mammogram results, which were collected by telephone interview, to results listed in the radiology record of 411 African American and 734 White women who underwent screening in 5 hospital-based facilities in Connecticut between October 1996 and January 1998. Using multivariate logistic regression, we identified independent predictors of inadequate communication of mammography results. Results. It was significantly more common for African American women to experience inadequate communication of screening mammography results compared with White women, after adjustment for sociodemographic, access-to-care, biomedical, and psychosocial factors. Abnormal mammogram results resulted in inadequate communication for African American women but not White women (P<.001). Conclusions. African American women may not be receiving the full benefit of screening mammograms because of inadequate communication of results, particularly when mammography results are abnormal.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States.1 As a strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality from this disease, current guidelines in the United States recommend routine mammography screening for women aged 40 years and older.2,3 Despite the widespread availability of mammography screening and relatively high self-reported screening rates reflected in national survey data,4 racial disparities in outcomes persist, including diagnosis at later stages in African American women when compared with White women.1 Although several factors have been implicated in the relative disadvantage for African American women,5,6 the persistent late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer in African American women prompted a closer look at possible race-related differences in the screening mammography process. We examined possible differences in an aspect of the screening process that is likely linked to its efficacy as a screening tool: communication of screening mammography results.7 Specifically, on the basis of data from a prospective cohort study, we examined whether African American women were as likely as White women to receive the results of a recent mammogram and were as likely to self-report results that matched the mammography radiology report. We also sought to determine whether the results of a screening mammogram either normal or abnormal affected the communication of those results.
Study Population Methods for the prospective cohort study are described elsewhere.8,9 Briefly, the target population included African American and White women aged 4079 years old who sought a screening mammogram (i.e., the index screening) at 1 of 5 urban hospital-based screening facilities in Connecticut between October 1996 and January 1998. A previous statewide survey demonstrated that these facilities served a population comprised of at least 20% African Americans, well above the 9.1% of African Americans living in Connecticut.10 All eligible African American women who presented for a screening mammogram at these facilities were selected for study. An equal number of White women were randomly selected (using a computerized random-digit generator) and were frequency matched to African American women by the date of mammogram and screening facility. Women were considered ineligible for the study if they had a history of breast malignancy, cyst aspiration, breast biopsy, or were receiving diagnostic mammograms. Approval for the study was obtained from the Yale University School of Medicine Human Investigation Committee and the institutional review boards of each participating hospital. Participation rates differed significantly across racial groups: 69% African American, 77% White (P < .001). Our analysis included the 1145 women (411 [36%] African American and 734 [64%] White, P < .001) who returned signed consent forms allowing us access to their mammography records. More than 99% of baseline interviews were conducted within 6 months of the index examination (mean ±SD = 1.5 ±0.85 months).
Outcome Measure To determine agreement versus nonagreement between self-reported results and mammography records, we categorized the results of screening mammograms on the basis of criteria established by the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS): incomplete (0), negative (1), benign (2), probably benign (3), suspicious (4), or highly suggestive of malignancy (5).11 Women in this study obtained their index mammograms before the effective date of the Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act of 1998 regulations,12 which mandated that mammography findings be classified using the BI-RADS assessment categories. Therefore, in most cases the BI-RADS classifications were assigned by the study staff on the basis of the findings and recommended follow-up noted in the record. To facilitate the comparison to self-reported results, we also assigned BI-RADS categories to the self-reported results on the basis of 2 interview questions: (1)"what were you told about your mammogram results?" (e.g., "normal," "saw something," "cyst," "mass") and (2)"what were you asked to do next?" (e.g., "repeat mammogram," "ultrasound," "return in 3 months"). All BI-RADS classifications were assigned by study investigators without access to the participants race/ ethnicity, and differences were resolved by case conference among the study team. The multilevel BI-RADS categories for self-reports and medical records were then classified as either normal or abnormal. Normal results were defined as mammograms that were negative or benign (BI-RADS categories 1 and 2). Abnormal results were defined as incomplete or inconclusive screenings, probably benign findings, or findings that were suspicious or suggestive of malignancy (BI-RADS categories 0, 3, 4, and 5, respectively).9
Data Analysis
Data analyses were performed using the SAS version 8.2 (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). Bivariate analyses using the
Race differences in the study population are shown in Table 1
Table 2
Inadequate communication was more common among African Americans than among Whites (OR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 3.76), after adjustment for age, income, education, occupational status, marital status, facility, usual care provider, history of mammography screening, and the person who provided the index screening result (Table 3
Although the result of the index mammogram was not associated with race/ethnicity or the outcome variable in bivariate analyses, results of stratified analyses indicate that abnormal results resulted in inadequate communication for African American women but not White women (Table 4
In this community-based sample of healthy women aged 4079 years old, inadequate communication of screening mammogram results was significantly more common among African American women than among White women, even after adjustment for relevant sociodemographic, access-to-care, biomedical, and psychosocial factors. Although communication of all results is considered an important aspect of mammography screening quality,11 it would seem particularly important in the case of abnormal or inconclusive screening exams. In fact, abnormal results were more likely to be inadequately communicated to African American women but not to White women. This statistically significant interaction suggests that the "real world" efficacy of mammography screening is somewhat compromised for African American women. The result of an index screening mammogram was inadequately communicated to or understood by 14.5% of all women in this study. Of these, most (12.5%) reported that they had not received their screening result, whereas a smaller proportion of women (2.0%) reported that they had received their result, but their self-report differed from the mammography record. Although it is reassuring that most of the poor communication is attributable to results that were not received, it is worrisome that of the 23 women who reported incorrect results, most believed that their mammograms were normal (n = 18, 78.3%), despite the fact that their records indicated otherwise. Believing that an abnormal screening was actually normal was a common occurrence (53%) among women who had inadequate follow-up of an abnormal screening mammogram in a study by McCarthy et al.16 These findings suggest that abnormal or inconclusive results may be less effectively communicated than normal results. As already noted, most women whose results were not adequately communicated reported not receiving the result of their screening examination. We cannot exclude the possibility that some women were interviewed too soon after the index mammogram to allow for receipt of the results. However, this is an unlikely explanation for the observed difference in adequacy of communication between the racial groups, because time to interview did not vary significantly by race. Only 12.4% of African American women and 10.3% of White women were interviewed within 3 weeks of the index examination, which allowed adequate time for the results to be delivered by any method. Furthermore, African American women were significantly more likely than were White women to report that results had not been received, regardless of time-to-interview (P < .001). Finally, although excluding women who did not receive their results and were interviewed within 3 weeks of their mammogram resulted in a slightly reduced OR for race (1.91, P = .052), adjustment for time-to-interview in the multivariate model had little effect on this OR (1.97, P = .04). Thus, it is unlikely that systematic differences in time-to-interview are the explanation for the reported race difference in communication of results. Rather, it is likely that for most of these women, there was a true failure in communication. Possible explanations for why some women reported that they never received their screening mammography results include that the mammography facility or health care provider failed to notify these women; the notification was mailed to the wrong address; the respondent could not be reached by phone; or the result was misplaced, forgotten, or not understood by the respondent. A small percentage of women who were not notified (5.6%) had an abnormal result from the screening mammogram and as with women who believed that their abnormal result was normal when it was not, these women may not have received needed follow-up. In fact, among women in our study population who had abnormal results, 44% of those in the inadequate communication group compared with 29% of those in the adequate communication group did not receive adequate follow-up (P=.08).9 Even for cases in which the screening result is normal, lack of notification is a missed opportunity to communicate and reinforce recommended guidelines for regular screening. Regular mammography screening, in accordance with guidelines, is needed to maximize the efficacy of this method of early detection,17 but according to a recent review, only 46% of women currently avail themselves of regular screening,18 and some but not all studies show even lower percentages for African American women.7 Our study pre-dates the Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act of 1998,12 which mandates that mammography facilities provide women with written notification, in lay terminology, of the results of their mammography exams. However, lack of receipt or misplacement of a sent letter may remain among possible notification problems, and other strategies to contact women who, for example, lack phone service or frequently change residence, may further improve adherence to mammography guidelines or follow-up for abnormal or inconclusive screening exams. Regarding the adequacy of communication, the observed differences between facilities in this and in our earlier survey (of all facilities in Connecticut10) underscores the importance of regulating all aspects of mammography screening, including patient notification. The difference in adequacy of communicating screening mammography results to the 2 racial groups is perhaps a manifestation of well-established communication difficulties between physicians and minority patients.19,20 Poor communication between health care provider and patient may adversely affect delivery of health care services,21 and as reviewed by Ashton et al.,22 there is increasing evidence that providers communicate more effectively with White patients than with racial/ethnic minority patients. Good patientprovider communication was key to timely follow-up for an abnormal screening in another recent study of African-American women,23 although inadequate communication of results was not associated with inadequate follow-up for abnormal mammograms in our study. Despite these inconsistencies, better communication of screening results, including the opportunity for patients to ask questions,23 may improve breast cancer outcomes. Finally, although it was not measured in our study, it may be that low health literacy contributed to our findings. Although there is certainly a wide range of variability within any population group, having low health literacy is more likely among individuals of lower SES24 and may affect some racial groups more than others. In addition to ensuring that screening results are clearly and carefully explained, it may be useful to know about culturally relevant issues that could be barriers to obtaining follow-up for an abnormal screening or to adhering to a regular screening schedule. Fatalistic attitudes toward cancer recovery and lack of confidence in cancer treatments, for example, have been observed to be common among African Americans.25,26 Addressing these cultural issues may increase the likelihood that African American women will experience productive and mutually participatory patientprovider interactions which, in turn, may improve health care outcomes.19,20
Limitations and Strengths Our study had several strengths, including the relatively large sample size, a substantial proportion of African American women, and detailed patient information, which was incorporated into the analysis. Moreover, incorporating several conceptual frameworks (e.g., the Health Belief Model),27,28 the study questionnaire was designed a priori to explore why African American women in particular may not receive the full benefit of mammography screening. As such, most of the variables, including many considered in preliminary analyses but dropped from the final model, were specific to breast cancer and mammography, as well as the relevant health disparities literature. Although our study was not population-based, it was likely representative of the general population that receives screening mammograms in large facilities in Connecticut. On the basis of our own statewide survey of mammography facilities, in which we collected information on volume of screening mammography and racial composition of the population served in each facility,10 we were able to enroll from 5 of 6 major screening facilities that provided mammograms to African American women. Because White women also receive mammograms in smaller, private facilities, limiting our comparison to larger, hospital-based mammography facilities may have attenuated differences across racial groups. That said, the race differences in the sociodemographic variables are very similar to those observed in the general population29 and in our own population-based study of breast cancer cases in African American and White women in Connecticut.30
Conclusions
This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute (grant RO1-CA-CA70731 to B. Jones), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (grant RO3 HS11603 to L. Calvocoressi), and the National Cancer Institute Cancer Education Training Program (grant R25CA47773 to N. Liston). We thank the following hospitals in Connecticut that allowed access to their patients and medical records: Bridgeport Hospital, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Waterbury Hospital, and Yale-New Haven Hospital. We also thank Lisa Schlenk for her invaluable assistance with data collection and management.
Human Participant Protection
Peer Reviewed
Contributors Accepted for publication March 11, 2006.
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