Abstract P1-11-13: An evaluation of mobile mammography outreach in urban and rural communities

Abstract

Abstract Background: Mobile mammography has been used to reach underserved women in a diverse number of settings. In this work, we demonstrate similarities and differences between rural and urban communities served by a single mobile mammography unit (MMU) affiliated with a comprehensive cancer center in Missouri. Methods: An outreach registry of patients serviced by the MMU was created and includes data from medical records and responses to a brief questionnaire completed at each visit. Data was examined by point of care (urban/rural) to assess the efficacy of mobile mammography as an outreach strategy in each of these environments. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the relationships between demographic characteristics such as age, income, race/ethnicity, education, employment status, marital status, insurance status, and living environment proxy. Results: Between 2006 and 2013, 9480 women received their care on the mobile mammography van. The sample was stratified by point of care (urban vs. rural) served, with majority of the women (86%) residing in urban/suburban St. Louis City/County, and 14% in rural regions. Urban zip codes had a lower percentage of women with income greater than $20,000 (12% v. 21%) and higher percentage of women with income less than $10,000 (49% v. 37%) in comparison to rural communities(p=0.01). There were higher proportions of black women in urban communities (63%) compared to rural communities (10%; p<0.001). Almost half (47%) the women that received mobile mammography in rural zip code were married compared to less than a quarter of women from urban zip codes (24%; p<0.001). Rural communities (83%) had a higher percentage of uninsured women compared to urban communities (67%; p<0.001). Women in urban and rural communities were similar in respect to age, employment status, and education. Conclusions: Mobile mammography has the potential to reach a large population of women with limited educational, financial, and healthcare resources. Future studies will be needed to determine if increasing the range and extent of mobile units, such as this one, would be effective in increasing the screening rates of not only women in Missouri, but also in other portions of this country. Citation Format: Lauren Steward, Susan Kraenzle, Bettina Drake, Sarah Lyons, Melody Goodman. An evaluation of mobile mammography outreach in urban and rural communities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-13.