Abhinav Vij MBBS, MPH, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Supriya Gupta MBBS, MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sheela Agarwal MD, MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Scott Edward Hunter MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sanjay Saini MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Daniel B. Kopans MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research support, General Electric Company Patent holder, Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

The purpose of this study was to explore women’s interest in obtaining screening mammograms in a retail health care setting, and to determine their preferences for receiving screening at this location.

Self-administered surveys were distributed to consecutive patients while waiting to obtain their annual screening mammogram at a tertiary care center breast imaging department (May 2009 - August 2009). All of the women who were asked were screening eligible (greater than age 40 and no abnormal mammograms in the recent past). Women were asked whether they would be interested in getting their screening mammogram in a private area within a retail health clinic that would be operated by a tertiary care center. They were informed that the images would be interpreted at the same tertiary care center. The survey was completed by 400 patients.

The average respondent age was 57 years. 310/400 (78%) of the patients had received a college or post-graduate education. 150/400 (38%) reported an annual income greater than $60,000. 241/400 (60%) respondents had been obtaining screening mammograms for greater than 10 years, while this was the first examination for 8/400 (2%) patients. 287/400 (72%) had been receiving screening mammograms regularly, with their last exam one year ago. 212/400 (53%) respondents stated that they would be interested in receiving their annual screening mammogram in a private area within a retail shopping facility. Of those, 163 (77%) would be interested in receiving the exam at a pharmacy, 38 (18%) at a Wal-Mart, and 33 (16%) at a grocery store. The primary factors that were most appealing about the retail setting include proximity to home (56%), convenient and free parking (38%), and flexibility of operating hours (31%). 128 (32%) patients stated they would be more likely to receive regular mammograms if they were offered outside normal business hours.

A majority of the women reported interest in participating in screening mammography at a retail health care clinic location with most of them preferring the location to be a pharmacy.

Adherence to screening mammography guidelines can be increased if screening is provided at a conveniently located retail health clinic.

Vij, A, Gupta, S, Agarwal, S, Hunter, S, Saini, S, Kopans, D, Retail Venue-based Screening Mammography: Assessment of Women’s Preferences.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9014952.html