Assessing Barriers to Screening among Participants in the Puerto Rico Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

Authors:

Taina De La Torre (Presenter)
Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center

Public Health Statement: The Puerto Rico Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PRBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women. Breast and cervical cancer screening can save lives when abnormal lesions and early cancers are detected and treated; however, many women are not timely screened.

Purpose: We assessed the woman’s barriers to obtain their cervical and breast cancer screening procedures.

Methods/Approach: Program participants were interviewed by telephone after recruited into the Program by the Patient Navigator. The survey consisted of 23 questions. The interview lasted from 2 to 14 minutes and it was conducted from August 2015 to April 2016.

Results: One-hundred twenty-two women completed the survey. Twelve women could not complete the survey. Only 11 women (9%) reported having barriers for obtaining a Pap smear and 12 (10%) for obtaining a mammogram. Of those reporting barriers, the most frequently reported barriers were lack of transportation (8%) and worries about work (6%). In order to overcome barriers to screening, women reported they would need transportation support to get to medical facilities (6%) and to receive assistance to coordinate their medical appointments (2%). In addition, when survey participants (n=122) were asked about preference for receiving appointment reminders, 46% preferred text messages and 44% preferred telephone calls; whereas, only (7%) preferred telephone voice messages.

Conclusions/Implications: The main barriers encountered in this study were addressed by the Program by coordinating free transportation for women. Also, the Program is currently working on implementing cellular phone text messages reminders for appointments.