Transtheoretical model applied to receipt of clinical preventive services by women with mobility impairments

Background

Women with mobility impairments are less likely than women in the general population to receive regular mammograms, Papanicolou tests, and clinician weight checks. General population studies have consistently demonstrated theoretical relationships between Transtheoretical Model (TTM) constructs and receipt of clinical preventive services. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these theoretical relationships were consistent among women with mobility impairments.

Sample

The sample consists of 144 women with mobility impairments aged 35 – 64 in Oregon, recruited via Oregon's Medicaid provider, a durable medical equipment vendor, and posted flyers. Women not current with recommended guidelines for mammography, Papanicolou tests, and/or clinician weight checks were eligible for the study.

Methods

A one-way independent ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's pairwise comparisons were conducted to test mean differences in self-efficacy, perceived benefits of screenings, and perceived susceptibility to disease by TTM stage for receipt of each clinical preventive service.

Results

ANOVA results revealed significant differences in self-efficacy by TTM stage groups for mammography, Papanicolou tests, and weight checks, and post-hoc results indicated an increasing trend in means with increasing stage. Similarly, ANOVA revealed significant differences in perceived benefits by TTM stage groups for weight checks, with an increasing trend in means with increasing stage in post-hoc results.

Conclusions

The findings offer evidence for several theoretical relationships between TTM constructs for clinical preventive service receipt among women with mobility impairments. Interventions that increase self-efficacy and utilize other TTM constructs may increase the rate of service receipt among women with mobility impairments.