Table 3.
Selected breast cancer knowledge and screening practices (n=209)*
| Breast Cancer Knowledge | |
|---|---|
| Percentages are in parentheses following the number of respondents selecting each item | n % |
| Age women are supposed to start having mammograms: | (n=182) |
| <35 | (37) 20.3 |
| 35 | (14) 7.7 |
| 36 –39 | (1) .6 |
| 40 | (84) 46.2 |
| 41 – 49 | (9) 4.9 |
| 50 | (13) 7.1 |
| >50 | (7) 2.8 |
| Don’t Know | (17) 9.3 |
| Once women start having mammograms, how often should they have them? | (n=188) |
| Every year / Every 1–2 years | (161) 85.6 |
| Every 3 years or more | (27) 14.4 |
| Which of following increase risk of getting breast cancer: (May choose more than 1) | (n=197) |
| Early period – before age 10 | (15) 7.6 |
| Older age | (81) 41.1 |
| Exercising a lot/jumping around | (16) 8.1 |
| Late menopause – after age 55 | (53) 26.9 |
| Being a woman | (54) 27.4 |
| Being obese | (29) 14.7 |
| Not getting enough exercise | (42) 21.3 |
| Drinking a lot of alcohol | (40) 20.3 |
| Having big breasts | (27) 13.7 |
| Wearing tight bras and other clothing | (27) 13.7 |
| Breast feeding | (21) 10.7 |
| Hitting or bumping breasts | (65) 33.0 |
| Breast Cancer Screening Practices | |
| Mammography | |
| Time since last mammogram: | (n=185) |
| In past year | (69) 37.3 |
| 1–2 years ago | (37) 20,0 |
| More than two years ago | (59) 31.9 |
| Never got test | (20) 10.8 |
| Reason for no mammogram in past year among non-adherent women† (May choose more than 1): | (n=79) |
| Doctor didn’t order | (34) 43.0 |
| No symptoms | (7) 8.9 |
| Psychological barriers≠ | (17) 21.5 |
| Logistical barriers≠ | (13) 16.5 |
| Cost too much/No insurance | (11) 13.9 |
| Intentions to be screened in coming year among women due for screening‡ | (n=115) |
| Yes≠ | (75) 65.2 |
| Maybe | (23) 20.0 |
| No | (17) 14.8 |
| Clinical Breast Examination | |
| Time since last CBE: | (n=180) |
| In past year | (61) 33.9 |
| 1–2 yrs ago | (38) 21.1 |
| More than two years ago | (65) 36.1 |
| Never got test | (16) 8.9 |
*
Percentages are determined by total number of responses (in parentheses) to each question.
≠
Psychological barriers include any concern about pain, embarrassed, fear (afraid of finding cancer), and procrastination.
≠
Logistical barriers include transportation problems, communication problems, difficulty in making an appointment.
†
Non-adherent women never had a mammogram or had a mammogram more than two years in the past
‡
Due for screening are women who never had a mammogram or had a mammogram more than one year in the past