Telephone Intervention Improves Screening Rates
According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a telephone support intervention improved the rates of screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among low-income women.
Screening for early detection of cancer has improved survival for many types of cancer, including breast, cervical, and colorectal. Cervical and colorectal screening also offers the benefit of detecting precancerous changes. Treating these precancerous changes may prevent the development of cancer.
In spite of the known benefits of cancer screening, many women are not screened at the recommended intervals or are not screened at all. This is a particular problem among low-income women who may experience many barriers to care. Researchers are therefore interested in identifying ways to decrease disparities in receipt of cancer screening.
In order to evaluate the effect of telephone support on screening rates for three types of cancer—breast, cervical, and colorectal—researchers conducted a randomized trial among women who received care at community and migrant health centers in New York City.
The study enrolled a total of 1413 women between the ages of 50 and 69. All were overdue for at least one type of cancer screening.
Half the women were assigned to receive the telephone support intervention, and half were assigned to receive usual care.
The telephone support intervention consisted of a series of telephone calls from a trained prevention care manager. The point of the telephone calls was to identify and address each woman’s barriers to screening. Over an 18-month period, women in the intervention group received an average of four telephone calls.
Over the study period, the rate of mammography increased from 58% to 68% among women in the intervention group and decreased from 60% to 58% among women in the usual care group.
The rate of Pap testing increased from 71% to 78% among women in the intervention group and did not change among women in the usual care group.
The rate of colorectal cancer screening increased from 39% to 63% among women in the intervention group and from 39% to 50% among women in the usual care group.
The proportion of women who were up-to-date for all three types of screening increased from 21% to 43% among women in the intervention group and from 22% to 30% among women in the usual care group.
The researchers conclude, “Telephone support can improve cancer screening rates among women who visit community and migrant health centers.” This may be a useful strategy for reducing existing disparities in receipt of recommended screening tests.
Reference: Dietrich AJ, Tobin JN, Cassells A et al. Telephone Care Management to Improve Cancer Screening Among Low-Income Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2006;144:563-571.
Screening for early detection of cancer has improved survival for many types of cancer, including breast, cervical, and colorectal. Cervical and colorectal screening also offers the benefit of detecting precancerous changes. Treating these precancerous changes may prevent the development of cancer.
In spite of the known benefits of cancer screening, many women are not screened at the recommended intervals or are not screened at all. This is a particular problem among low-income women who may experience many barriers to care. Researchers are therefore interested in identifying ways to decrease disparities in receipt of cancer screening.
In order to evaluate the effect of telephone support on screening rates for three types of cancer—breast, cervical, and colorectal—researchers conducted a randomized trial among women who received care at community and migrant health centers in New York City.
The study enrolled a total of 1413 women between the ages of 50 and 69. All were overdue for at least one type of cancer screening.
Half the women were assigned to receive the telephone support intervention, and half were assigned to receive usual care.
The telephone support intervention consisted of a series of telephone calls from a trained prevention care manager. The point of the telephone calls was to identify and address each woman’s barriers to screening. Over an 18-month period, women in the intervention group received an average of four telephone calls.
Over the study period, the rate of mammography increased from 58% to 68% among women in the intervention group and decreased from 60% to 58% among women in the usual care group.
The rate of Pap testing increased from 71% to 78% among women in the intervention group and did not change among women in the usual care group.
The rate of colorectal cancer screening increased from 39% to 63% among women in the intervention group and from 39% to 50% among women in the usual care group.
The proportion of women who were up-to-date for all three types of screening increased from 21% to 43% among women in the intervention group and from 22% to 30% among women in the usual care group.
The researchers conclude, “Telephone support can improve cancer screening rates among women who visit community and migrant health centers.” This may be a useful strategy for reducing existing disparities in receipt of recommended screening tests.
Reference: Dietrich AJ, Tobin JN, Cassells A et al. Telephone Care Management to Improve Cancer Screening Among Low-Income Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2006;144:563-571.
posted by TM at 7:35 AM
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