OBJECTIVES: In a health maintenance organization that mails letters to women recommending that they schedule mammograms, we conducted a randomized trial to evaluate simple methods of increasing the use of screening mammography. METHODS: Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, we tested the effects of (1) mailing the recommendation letter from each woman's primary care physician rather than from the program director and (2) sending a subsequent reminder postcard. RESULTS: Sending a reminder postcard nearly doubled the odds that women would get mammograms within 1 year (participate). The letter from the woman's personal physician had no effect. Attending a clinic more than 45 minutes from the screening center, being a current smoker, or being in fair or poor health were negatively associated with subsequently obtaining a mammogram. The odds of participation doubled if women had had previous mammograms. CONCLUSIONS: When preceded by written recommendations to schedule mammograms, reminder postcards effectively increased participation. Future randomized trials to promote use of screening mammography should compare interventions with a reminder condition.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: In a health maintenance organization that mails letters to women recommending that they schedule mammograms, we conducted a randomized trial to evaluate simple methods of increasing the use of screening mammography. METHODS: Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, we tested the effects of (1) mailing the recommendation letter from each woman's primary care physician rather than from the program director and (2) sending a subsequent reminder postcard. RESULTS: Sending a reminder postcard nearly doubled the odds that women would get mammograms within 1 year (participate). The letter from the woman's personal physician had no effect. Attending a clinic more than 45 minutes from the screening center, being a current smoker, or being in fair or poor health were negatively associated with subsequently obtaining a mammogram. The odds of participation doubled if women had had previous mammograms. CONCLUSIONS: When preceded by written recommendations to schedule mammograms, reminder postcards effectively increased participation. Future randomized trials to promote use of screening mammography should compare interventions with a reminder condition.
Authors: Adam Wright; Eric G Poon; Jonathan Wald; Joshua Feblowitz; Justine E Pang; Jeffrey L Schnipper; Richard W Grant; Tejal K Gandhi; Lynn A Volk; Amy Bloom; Deborah H Williams; Kate Gardner; Marianna Epstein; Lisa Nelson; Alex Businger; Qi Li; David W Bates; Blackford Middleton Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2011-09-09 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: N K Janz; D Schottenfeld; K M Doerr; S M Selig; R L Dunn; M Strawderman; P A Levine Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 1997-10 Impact factor: 9.308