Factors influencing effect of mammography screening in a university workplace

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between theoretically identified variables and participation in mammography screening in a university workplace. A sample of 1093 women 50 and over returned a questionnaire following the offer of a free workplace breast cancer screening. Anderson's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use identified factors predisposing and enabling women to have mammograms. Predisposing variables included attitudes and experience related to mammography. Enabling variables included income, willingness to pay for mammography, health insurance coverage, and regular source of health care. Comparisons were made among: (i) those who were screened in the workplace, (ii) those who were screened elsewhere, and (iii) those who were not screened. Differences in perceived barriers, perceived benefits, practice of breast self-examination (BSE), and education surfaced. Results indicated, among other things, that women who were older, had no more than 12 years of education, had a family member with breast cancer, and were proficient with breast self-examination were more likely to have participated in the university work-site screening.