Online Program

335695
Predictors of Mammography Screening Use among Women with MS


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Ana Todd, PhD RN, School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, TX
Alexa K. Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, FAAN, School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Women with chronic disabling conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are less likely to participate in routine mammography screening than women without disabilities due to multiple barriers. Underuse of mammography screening may result in late stage breast cancer and a higher mortality rate. This study examined the influence of MS-related functional limitations, demographic characteristics, family history of breast cancer, beliefs related to mammography screening and breast cancer, and personal resources on usual screening mammography in a sample of women with MS.

Data from an ongoing longitudinal study focused on health promotion of persons with MS were combined with primary data for this prospective descriptive correlational study. The nonprobability sample consisted of 274 women ages 39-85 years who were primarily White (92%), married (66.1%), and unemployed (64.1%) with a 22 year average length of MS diagnosis. Data that were collected over two years were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical logistic regression.

            The annual mammography rate was 62%. Perceived susceptibility to breast cancer (AOR = 3.0, p < .05), family history (AOR = 2.5, p < .05), economic adequacy (AOR = 1.6, p < .05), and perceived barriers to mammography (AOR = .98, p < .05) were significant predictors. Though severity of limitations was negatively associated with mammography, it was not a significant predictor.

These findings suggest that for women with chronic disabling conditions, health beliefs, family history, and personal resources influence mammography screening. Clinicians need to continue to reduce barriers to mammography screening to improve screening rates in this population.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Describe the likelihood of annual mammography use in a sample of women with multiple sclerosis. Identify significant predictors of annual mammography use in a sample of women with multiple sclerosis.

Keyword(s): Cancer Prevention and Screening, Disabilities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a co-principal of this federally funded NIH grant (R01NR003195-14S) focusing on maximizing quality of life for persons with MS. This study and an earlier qualitative study on barriers to mammography screening were funded through a Diversity Supplement (R01NR003195-14S) My research interests to date have included health promotion/disease prevention for women with chronic and disabling conditions.
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.