Delays in Follow-up Care for Abnormal Mammograms in Mobile Mammography Versus Fixed-Clinic Patients

Abstract

Background: Mobile mammographic services (MM) have been shown to increase breast cancer screening in medically underserved women. However, little is known about MM patients’ adherence to follow-up of abnormal mammograms and how this compares with patients from traditional, fixed clinics. Objectives: To assess delays in follow-up of abnormal mammograms in women screened using MM versus fixed clinics. Design: Electronic medical record review of abnormal screening mammograms. Subjects: Women screened on a MM van or at a fixed clinic with an abnormal radiographic result in 2019 (N = 1,337). Main Measures: Our outcome was delay in follow-up of an abnormal mammogram of 60 days or greater. Guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization, we assessed the following: predisposing (age, ethnicity, marital status, preferred language), enabling (insurance, provider referral, clinic site), and need (personal breast cancer history, family history of breast/ovarian cancer) factors. Key Results: Only 45% of MM patients had obtained recommended follow-up within 60 days of an abnormal screening compared to 72% of fixed-site patients (p