Improving the adherence of urban women to mammography guidelines: strategies for radiologists

Only 16% of women over 40 years of age are being screened regularly with mammography. To learn what radiologists and technologists can do to increase patient adherence to the screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society, especially by poor, urban women, the authors surveyed patients at a county facility immediately after mammography to document the patients' experiences with technologists and the procedure. Analysis of these data led to the conclusion that the radiologist should encourage an expanded role for the technologist as a breast health educator. By incorporating the use of a well-designed patient brochure, technologists can greatly enhance their effectiveness by decreasing the patient's anxiety and increasing her understanding of the procedure and of the importance of screening. Radiologists need to appreciate the potential of an expanded technologist's role for increasing future referrals.