The effectiveness of interventions to increase mammography uptake among non-adherent Asian American women: A meta-analysis

Authors: Huang L-T, Longcoy JA, Tai C-Y, Wang J H-Y, Sullivan K

Category: Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2020

Abstract Body:
a. Purpose: Breast cancer screening is underutilized among Asian American women despite the effectiveness of mammography (MAM) to detect breast cancer early. Various interventions have been developed to improve their MAM use. However, due to the inconsistency in the effectiveness of current interventions, synthesizing the existing results is important to guide future studies attempting to decrease cancer disparities. Thus, this meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the overall effects of existing interventions developed to increase MAM uptake for Asian American women. b. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies found in four main databases using the following keywords, including breast cancer screening, MAM, immigrants, and Asian Americans. Study eligibility included randomized clinical trials to promote MAM uptake published in 2003-2019. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to estimate effect sizes for each study and the pooled estimate. The heterogeneity was assessed to examine the variability in effect estimates across studies followed by a random effects model to account for the presence of heterogeneity. A funnel plot was generated along with other tests to detect the possibility of publication bias. c. Results: A total of 9 studies were identified, involving interventions that used a individually tailored, culturally sensitive media, or group settings. The pooled estimate of MAM uptake was statistically significant (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 2.14-3.06). Heterogeneity (Q = 61.57, p < 0.01) was identified in studies using the interventions involving a group setting compared to individual-directed strategies (p < .01) but not in ethnicity groups. Interventions using a group setting (OR = 2.18, p = 0.04) and individually tailored strategies provided a larger effect (OR = 2.05, p = 0.04). The pooled estimates during the sensitivity analysis were similar despite inclusion of influential studies. No publication bias was identified. d. Conclusions: Educational intervention programs are effective to increase MAM uptake in women who are not adherent to the breast cancer screening guidelines. To yield a greater impact in improving MAM uptake in Asian American women, future studies can use individually tailored interventions and/or a group setting.

Keywords: Mammography uptake, Asian American women, Meta-analysis