ASPO Abstracts
The interaction of perceived risk and benefits in predicting mammography adherence
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Early Detection & Risk Prediction
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to test the interaction of perceived risk and benefits scales on stage of readiness and mammography adherence 6 months post-intervention and whether sociodemographic variables related to the risk/benefits categories. Methods. Women aged 50-74 years (n=632) from Midwestern primary care clinics were enrolled in a randomized intervention study designed to increase mammography adherence. Data for this secondary analysis were collected 6 months post-intervention using a web-based survey. Four categories (low risk/low benefits, low risk/high benefits, high risk/low benefits, high risk/high benefits) were created to measure the relationship between the risk/benefits categories on mammography adherence, stage of readiness, income, education, family history of cancer, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status. Results. The highest rate of mammography adherence was in women with low risk/high benefits (43.8%) compared to the lowest rate of adherence in high risk/low benefits (11.1%). Differences in mammography adherence (p=.000) and stage of readiness (p=.000) between the 4 categories were significant. Women in the low risk/low benefits (50%) and high risk/low benefits (26.3%) categories were most likely to be in Precontemplation. Women in the low risk/high benefits (43.8%) and high risk/high benefits (19.3%) were most likely to be in Action. The risk/benefit categories differed significantly on smoking status (p=.009) and family history of cancer (p=.000). Smokers (47.8%) and women with a family history of cancer (53.3%) were most likely to be in the high benefits/low risk category. Conclusions. Perceived benefits was important for whether women obtained mammograms, and future interventions should target perceived benefits to increase mammography adherence and move stage of readiness. Surprisingly, women with high perceived benefits and low perceived risk compared to high risk were more likely to be adherent and in Action, which may reflect that a moderate level of risk moves women to Action. Those who are smokers and with a family history of cancer may overestimate the benefits of mammography and underestimate their personal risk.
Keywords: mammography, perceived risk, perceived benefits