230987 On the Statistical Evidence Behind the New Mammography Recommendations

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM

Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, PhD , Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO
     
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-sponsored group closely followed by Medicaid, Medicare and insurers, is recommending against annual mammograms for women in their 40s and self exams. This recommendation is based on solid scientific reasoning. However, inaccurate media reporting has led to controversy. In this talk I will describe the statistical evidence behind these recommendations.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the recommendation by the government-sponsored U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that women in their 40s do not need annual mammograms (which means that Medicaid/Medicare/insurers would not cover such exams). 2. Demonstrate that the above recommendation is based on solid scientific reasoning. 3. Discuss how inaccurate media reporting has led to controversy. 4. Identify the statistical evidence behind the recommendation.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I chaired the United States Preventive Services Task Force that made the new mammography recommendations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4390.0: Annual Special Session: Controversies in Public Health due to Misinterpretation of Statistical Information