Abstract 4241: Associations between perceived medical device-related radiation harm and adherence to mammography screening guidelines
Authors: Taparra Kekoa , Pepin Kay M. , Greenberg-Worisek Alexandra J. 
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Many forms of cancer screening involve imaging technologies utilizing radiation. Broad media coverage of radiation-related health risks may shape the public's perceptions of imaging-based cancer screening, such as mammography. In turn, this may impact patient outcomes by affecting cancer screening decisions. Our primary aim was to evaluate population differences in beliefs about medical radiation exposure in the United States and associations with mammography screening rates in women.

Methods: We analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2012 administration. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to evaluate associations of sex, ethnicity, age, annual income, and education with perceptions of harm from medical test radiation exposure. Additional analyses evaluated the role of radiation perception on compliance with current mammography screening recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

Results: Approximately one-third of respondents indicated that they worried about medical imaging-related radiation exposure. Respondents who perceived medical imaging radiation as harmful to health were more likely to be female, be diagnosed with cancer, have less formal education, report lower socioeconomic status, and identify as an ethnic minority. Most female participants were not in compliance with current breast cancer screening recommendations (weighted percentage = 83.8%). Annual income (p = 0.042) and ethnicity (p = 0.0478) were two variables that were significantly associated with adherence to the recommended mammography screening paradigm. Women without health insurance were more likely to worry about medical imaging-related radiation (p=0.073). Neither health insurance (95%CI = 0.29, 4.99) nor excess worry about radiation exposure from medical imaging devices (95%CI=0.42, 1.89) predicted compliance to mammography screening, after adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables.

Conclusions: These results indicate that some populations may be more concerned about harm from medical device-related radiation than others. Identifying these populations may help improve future cancer patient outcomes by promoting targeted health interventions and communication strategies for these individuals. Women may be more likely to perceive medical imaging radiation exposure as harmful to health, however this alone could not account for why the majority of female respondents were not adhering to recommended mammograms screening guidelines. Future studies are needed to identify the major contributor to low breast cancer screening rates in the United States.

Citation Format: Kekoa Taparra, Kay M. Pepin, Alexandra J. Greenberg-Worisek. Associations between perceived medical device-related radiation harm and adherence to mammography screening guidelines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4241.