Effect of a community health center intervention on breast cancer screening among Hispanic American women

Abstract

Objective: A multiple component intervention in a community health center is presented, and its effect on breast cancer screening participation by Hispanic American women between the ages of 45 and 75 years is discussed.

Data sources/study setting: In 1990, data were collected through a retrospective audit (at least as far back as 1987) of community health center medical records, as well as from a client referral log. The health center, located in a small Massachusetts city, primarily serves clients of Latino heritage.

Study design: The study used a nonexperimental pretest-posttest intervention design to document clients' screening activities. To control for uneven length of enrollment, aging of the population, and sporadic utilization, the unit of analysis chosen for the principle study variables was an "eligible year."

Data collection: Variables of interest included screening (clinical breast exam and mammography), periodicity of screening, and compliance with referrals.

Principal findings: Postintervention, considerably greater screening mammography occurred among all age groups, more women had at least one screening mammogram during the period, more clinical breast exams included a mammogram referral, and the compliance rate improved. The rate of clinical breast exam did not significantly improve, showing a downward trend.