Despite the proven value of breast screening, compliance rates still aren’t as high as they should be. A new study in Clinical Breast Cancer shows how mobile mammography can improve screening adherence – especially among groups traditionally underserved in the healthcare system.
Estimates of mammography compliance vary – the American Cancer Society estimates that the overall U.S. breast screening rate held steady at 64-66% from 2000 to 2018.
- But a variety of factors can influence screening rates, from race to income to location.
Mobile mammography is an obvious solution that brings the imaging test to women rather than requiring them to travel.
- But some questions have persisted about mobile screening, such as whether it might cannibalize facility-based mammography programs, which have higher fixed costs.
In the new study, researchers from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute reviewed CMS claims data for 2.6M eligible women from 2004 to 2021.
Researchers found …
- 50% of women had received a screening mammogram.
- Only 0.4% used mobile mammography, but rates were higher in rural areas (1%) compared to large cities (0.3%) and small towns (0.4%).
- American Indian or Alaska Native race was the factor most predictive for receiving mobile mammography (OR=5.5).
- Other predictive factors included residence in a rural geography (OR=3.3), as well as in a community with lower income (OR=1.4).
- Mobile mammography did not cannibalize facility-based mammography, based on data from heat maps showing utilization of both types of service.
Researchers concluded that mobile mammography can reduce health disparities by bringing imaging technology to underserved communities that might not otherwise have access to it.
- The findings echo a study earlier this year in which mobile mammography was also found to benefit the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions that occur when patients have to travel to medical facilities for screening.
The Takeaway
It may seem like a no-brainer to bring imaging to the people who need it, but the new study provides valuable evidence that the practice works on a national scale. Increased use of mobile imaging is an important tool for addressing persistent disparities in access to care.
