Evaluation results and lessons learned from breast cancer education workshops for employees of the City of New York

Screening reduces the risk of death from breast cancer, and the American Cancer Society recommends that individuals reduce other behavioral risk factors. Through a public-private partnership, which included the Mayor's Commission on Women's Issues, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health, free workshops were offered to all New York City employees to teach risk reduction techniques and screening methods. This workshop series also granted employees 90 minutes of excused time for attendance.

The hour-long workshop consisted of a PowerPoint presentation that included risk factors, mammography, clinical breast exam, and an interactive breast model. The main objective of the workshops was to increase mammography rates and healthy behaviors. A short telephone survey was conducted to evaluate if the workshops were effective in increasing screening rates.

Of the women aged 40 and over participating in the evaluation, 91% had received a mammogram within the past year. Half of the women over age 40 without a recent mammogram scheduled or received a mammogram after the workshop. In addition, 69% of workshop participants were influenced to perform breast-self exams, and 86% shared what they had learned.

This workshop demonstrated how cancer risk reduction and screening information can be provided to individuals in a worksite setting using a city partnership. Although many women in the target group had already been screened, many shared what they learned with friends and family. Additionally, the breast self-exam technique was influential, likely because the model breast is an interactive learning tool.