Family history of cancer and its association with breast cancer risk perception and repeat mammography.

Objectives: We examined the strength of association between family history of breast cancer and family history of other cancers with breast cancer risk perception and repeat mammography.

Methods: The sample included 6706 women, aged 46 to 74 years, with no breast cancer history. Multinomial logistic regression assessed the association between family history of cancer and breast cancer risk perception.

Clustering very low-income, insured women's mammography screening barriers into potentially functional subgroups.

Background: Mammography screening is essential for early detection of breast cancer and increased survival rates. Women, particularly those of low socioeconomic status, face barriers that impede their screening adherence. Although many studies have sought to identify these barriers, more research is needed on to address these obstacles in practice.

Randomized controlled trial of mammography intervention in insured very low-income women.

Background: The expectation that insurance coverage mitigates health disparities and equalizes use of healthcare assumes that services are equally accessed; however, the insured low-income target population in this research had a mammography rate of 23.4%, well below the general population. Our objective was to determine the most effective intervention to improve mammography use in low-income women insured by a managed care organization (MCO).

Breast cancer knowledge and barriers to mammography in a low-income managed care population.

Background: Low-income women experience multiple barriers to screening mammography. This study explored cancer knowledge as a point of intervention to reduce overall barriers.

Methods: A survey of breast cancer knowledge and barriers was obtained from 173 low-income female residents of Middle Tennessee, > or =40 years, enrolled in the state managed care organization and nonadherent to mammography.

Are women with functional limitations at high risk of underutilization of mammography screening?

Objectives: Women with functional limitations face obstacles in adhering to established mammography guidelines owing to personal factors and barriers within the health care system. Whereas some studies have focused on either physical or cognitive limitations that correlate with lower rates of cancer screening, this study examined multiple functional limitations (physical, psychological, and sociability) and mammography screening.

Methods: Data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed for 9,505 women aged > or =40 years.

The HPV vaccine mandate controversy.

In this editorial we address the controversies surrounding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine school-entry mandate legislation, but differentiate between the mandate debate and issues specific to the vaccine itself. Our goal is not to take a stand in favor of or opposed to mandates, but rather to critically examine the issues. We discuss the following arguments against HPV vaccine school-entry requirements: 1.