The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47659

Farzaneh Tabnak, MS, PhD¹, Valerie Quinn, MEd¹, Lisette Walker¹, Phil Rylett¹, Georjean Stoodt, MD, MPH¹, and Dileep G. Bal, MD². (1) California Department of Health Services, Cancer Detection Section, 601 North 7th Street, MS-428, P.O. Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320, (916) 323-4536, FTabnak@dhs.ca.gov, (2) California Department of Health Services, Cancer Control Branch, 601 North 7th Street, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320

Background: The 800 number has been operated by the Northern California Cancer Center under contract from DHS’s Cancer Detection Section since October 1995 to pre-qualify women (40 years and older, uninsured/underinsured and low income) for Breast Cancer Early Detection Program (BCEDP) and Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) services in California.

Goals: The goals of this study were to determine how well the 800 number promotes screening among eligible callers and gain insight into barriers/facilitators.

Method: The 800 number data were linked with the California BCEDP/BCCCP billing data to determine associations with screening and investigate possible barriers.

Results: More than 97% of the calls from eligible callers during 10/1995 to12/2000 were from women 40 to 59 years old (40-49: 55%; 50-59: 42%). About 72% percent of the calls from eligible callers were from women speaking in English, 27% in Spanish and less than 1% in Asian languages. The Asian language response capability (Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Korean) had been added in September 2000 making the 800 number first in the nation offering services in six languages. Preliminary results indicate that there are significant racial/ethnic differences in percent eligible callers who received screening services paid for by BCEDP/BCCCP after their call. Further analyses are underway to refine the findings.

Recommendations: “Personalize” the 800 number encounters to promote screening among eligible callers. Target eligible Asian speaking population to take advantage of the 800 number multi-language program through outreach activities. Assist eligible callers to bridge to screening services.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of those who were pre-qualified by phoning the 800# for free breast cancer screening through California Cancer Detection Section programs.
• Determine what percent of eligible callers received breast cancer screening services after their initial calls.
• Gain insight into barriers/facilitators in how eligible callers connect to screening services.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Low-Income

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.