Insure Me Cancer Free: An Intervention Utilizing a Dynamic Communication Model.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a pilot insurance company-based intervention guided by a Dynamic Communication Model to increase breast and colorectal cancer screening in Appalachian WV, a medically-underserved population with low screening rates. Our team and key informants developed letters and a website to promote cancer screening, and these were mailed to patients needing screening (breast: = 232; colorectal: = 324). After 6 months, a sample of women ( = 22) and men ( = 27) continuing to need screening received telephonic case management counseling.

Improving family history collection.

Family history is important for assessing risk of cancer. This study aimed to improve cancer family history communication and collection by training and motivating lay individuals to construct pedigrees. The authors' ultimate goal is to improve identification of familial cancer.

Variations of depression treatment among women with hypertension.

The objective was to examine depression treatment among non-pregnant women, aged 22 and older, with hypertension, utilizing cross-sectional data from the 2006 and 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Depression treatment patterns by demographic, socioeconomic, health care access, and health characteristics were analyzed utilizing chi-square tests and logistic and multinomial logistic regressions. Overall, 23.

Cervical cancer worry and screening among appalachian women.

Although many have sought to understand cervical cancer screening (CCS) behavior, little research has examined worry about cervical cancer and its relationship to CCS, particularly in the underserved, predominantly rural Appalachian region. Our mixed method investigation aimed to obtain a more complete and theoretically-informed understanding of the role of cancer worry in CCS among Appalachian women, using the Self-Regulation Model (SRM). Our quantitative analysis indicated that the perception of being at higher risk of cervical cancer and having greater distress about cancer were both associated with greater worry about cancer.

"Don't know" and accuracy of breast cancer risk perceptions among Appalachian women attending a mobile mammography program: implications for educational interventions and patient empowerment.

Risk perceptions are motivating factors for engaging in preventive health behaviors. Yet, almost one third of women attending a mobile mammography program targeted to rural and medically underserved Appalachian women respond "don't know" to their perceived 5-year risk of breast cancer. This study used cross-sectional data from women aged >40 years participating in Bonnie's Bus Mammography Screening and Preventive Care Survey from 2009 to 2011 to identify factors associated with "don't know" responses and accuracy of perceived risk according to constructs of the health belief model and sociodemographic characteristics.

Are obese women more likely to participate in a mobile mammography program?

Mobile mammography services are typically offered as a means to increase access and adherence to mammography screenings. As mobile mammography becomes a viable strategy to increase screening, a 3 year study of such a state-wide program in WV found surprisingly high rates of obesity within the study population. Thus, the objectives were to: (1) describe the demographic characteristics and comorbidities of women who utilized the WV program, and (2) determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and personal health and screening history, preventive care and wellness behaviors, nutrition and exercise behaviors, and demographics.

Factors influencing adherence to mammography screening guidelines in Appalachian women participating in a mobile mammography program.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the characteristics (demographic, access to care, health-related behavioral, self and family medical history, psychosocial) of women age 40 years and above who participated in a mobile mammography screening program conducted throughout West Virginia (WV) to determine the factors influencing their self-reported adherence to mammography screening guidelines. Data were analyzed using the Andersen Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization framework to determine the factors associated with adherence to mammography screening guidelines in these women. Of the 686 women included in the analysis, 46.