ASPO Abstracts
System Dynamics Modeling to Inform Effective Community-based Mammography Screening in Latina Breast Cancer Survivors
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
As a supportive aim of an on-going study funded by the American Cancer Society (RSG-12-119-01-CPPB; Thompson, PI), system dynamics (SD) modeling is used to inform strategies for effective community-based mammography screening. Current studies report that rates of mammography screening after completion of breast cancer treatment decline over time. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate new educational program for Latina breast cancer survivors. Program content, which has been developed into a multi-part video (DVD) based on survivors’ narratives, emphasizes the importance of regular follow-up care and other related, post-treatment topics. This study is intended to address prior findings that indicate Latina survivors may not be participating in surveillance on a regular basis. SD modeling is used here to conduct virtual experiments that explore comparative effectiveness of adherence to guideline surveillance relative to effects of acculturation, difficulties with medical interactions, and medical mistrust. In addition, SD modeling will be used to assess exposure to program content on, for example, sustained positive attitude towards post-treatment surveillance modalities, perception of strong social norms supporting surveillance, high perceived self-efficacy and behavioral control over participating in surveillance, strong intention to participate in surveillance, and fewer environmental constraints on one’s surveillance behavior. The main study generated data via a two-arm randomized design of Latina breast survivors who viewed our health communication DVD at baseline. Participants were 169 Latina breast cancer survivors between 3 and 48 months post-treatment residing in the metro Detroit and New York City areas. Study outcomes along with extant scientific literature and study stakeholders’ input support our SD model design, parameterization, and validation. In the current study, participants are followed for 12 months after exposure to the DVD intervention. To help inform effect dissemination strategies of our final educational program, SD modeling is used to simulate the screening behavior of participants for up to two years after study completion.
Keywords: Latina breast cancer survivorship; educational programming; system dynamics modeling;