Compliance with the screening mammography program of British Columbia: will she return?
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with compliance in the Screening Mammography Program of British Columbia (SMPBC). METHOD: Factors associated with rescreening within 18 months (annual compliers) and between 18 to 36 months later (late compliers) were identified in a cohort of SMPBC screenees using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Fewer than half of women initially screened within the SMPBC were annual compliers, nearly 40% not returning by 3 years. In women age 50+ years, annual compliers tended to have no prior mammography, no prior breast pain, a physician referral to SMPBC, and a normal initial SMPBC mammogram. Late compliers also tended to have no prior mammography, a physician referral, and a normal initial SMPBC mammogram. CONCLUSIONS: Several modifiable factors associated with compliance were identified: a physician referral to the program and possibly subsequent referral back to the program after workup for an abnormal mammogram.