Performing mammograms on low-income women when they are hospitalized can increase their breast cancer detection ratesThis was revealed by a new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Cancer screening can be challenging for low-income women due to factors such as lack of transportation and inability to take time off work. Therefore, researchers from Hospital General de Massachusetts (United States) examined the impact of performing mammograms on these women when they are hospitalized.
Thus, identified 21 eligible women, with an average age of 59 years, who were admitted to the General Medicine Service of the hospital and had not undergone a mammogram. Four were discharged from the hospital before mammograms could be arranged, but 17 were able to do the study.
Of those 17, 35% had never had a mammogram and the other women were four years late on average.
All mammograms were negative, except for one that was inconclusive. Additional imaging evaluation was recommended for the woman to rule out cancer.
Learn more: What should you expect from a mammogram?
Notably getting a mammogram did not increase the length of the patients’ hospital stay.
“We designed the study to reach women who face significant barriers to getting their mammograms in an outpatient setting,” said Dr. Andrew Hwang, an internist at the hospital and first author of the study.
“National and local data show that eligible patients have low breast cancer detection rates. This targeted strategy has the potential to reduce disparities in cancer detection rates by simultaneously addressing the acute medical needs of patients and their preventive care needs »added the expert.
“The patients who participated in our pilot study faced significant psychosocial challenges in completing outpatient prevention trials,” Hwang said.
Achieving equitable health outcomes for all women will require innovative solutions that reduce barriers to care by addressing the psychosocial needs of women. Completing preventive screenings, such as mammograms, during hospitalizations is one way to help patients who might otherwise lose preventive care.
Via: Health Day News
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