Providing individualized breast cancer assessments during routine primary health care visits raised the annual mammography rate of medically underserved women from 37% to 51% following risk assessment, among a cohort of 188 women, according to research published in Jama Network Open on September 10, 2921. The team of researchers was led by Dr. Candice Schwartz from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Schwarz and her team conclude that “providing individualized breast cancer risk estimates as a component of primary health care in federally qualified health centers was associated with increased use of mammography among women of racial and ethnic minority groups who were at high risk. Implementation of this approach in underserved communities could promote equity in the use of mammography and reduce racial disparities in breast cancer mortality. This strategy warrants further investigation.”

Sources:

Schwartz C, Chukwudozie IB, Tejeda S, et al. “Association of Population Screening for Breast Cancer Risk With Use of Mammography Among Women in Medically Underserved Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups.” JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2123751. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.23751 Accessed September 14, 2021, at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784051

Allegretto, Amerigo. “Individualizing risk estimates increase mammography use.” AuntMinnie.com September 10, 2021. Accessed September 14, 2021, at https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=wom&pag=dis&ItemID=133457