Reminders Boost Breast Cancer Screening

Ivanhoe Newswire
Wednesday, March 28, 2007; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Women who receive mammography reminders are more likely to get screening. Regular health service reminders could improve preventive health services and catch early-stage cancer.

Although mammography screening improves early detection of breast cancer, previous research has suggested many women do not receive annual mammography. New research from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reveals breast cancer screening reminders could encourage women to receive mammography.

Researchers studied the effectiveness of mammography screening reminders in a population of 6,665 women ages 40 to 75. They developed a Web-based system for appointment secretaries to manage proactive breast cancer screening. Appointment secretaries sent mammography invitations twice a month to half of study participants. They sent letters beginning three months before the due date for annual checkup. Patients who did not respond to letters received phone call reminders.

Approximately 65 percent of women who received screening invitations got a mammogram. In the group not receiving reminders, only 55 percent of patients got screening. Researchers report breast cancer screening rates increase when patients receive screening reminders.

Researchers report technology-based reminder systems make it easier for doctors to contact patients about upcoming annual appointment due dates. Not only do reminders increase a woman's odds of getting screened, but they also improve her odds of catching breast cancer before it advances to an aggressive stage.

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SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007;167:606-611