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Table 4 Knowledge of changes to mammography recommendations

From: Awareness of the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force recommended changes in mammography screening guidelines, accuracy of awareness, sources of knowledge about recommendations, and attitudes about updated screening guidelines in women ages 40–49 and 50+

Response Category

Percentage of Responses

Responses About Changes in Age To Start Screening

 

 Accurate Responses About Guidelines Change

 

  Start at 50

9.9%

  Example: “Used to be 35 or 40 but now it’s 50”

  Start later (no specific age mentioned)

19.8%

  Example: “Raised the age”

Inaccurate Responses About Guidelines Change

 

  Start at age earlier than 50 (specific age mentioned)

6.4%

  Example: “Age 45 recommend every two years”

  Start earlier (no specific age mentioned)

10.3%

  Example: “changed the age in which to get first mammogram”

  Change in age (no direction mentioned)

4.4%

  Example: “changed the age in which to get first mammogram”

  Don’t Know/Uncategorizable

21%

  Example: “Insurance changes”, “I don’t know”

  Response did not include statement about age

27.9%

Responses About Changes to Frequency of Screening

Percentage of Responses

Accurate Responses About Guidelines Change

 

  Every two years

16.8%

  Example: “went from every year to two years”

  Less frequent (no specific timetable mentioned)

19.3%

  Example: “Length between increase”

Inaccurate Responses About Guidelines Change

 

  Every year

3.9%

  Example: “lower the start age to 35 and made it annually”

  More frequent (no specific timetable mentioned)

8.9%

  Example: “I think they want you to have them more often”

  Change in frequency ( no direction mentioned)

4.0%

  Example: “The year was changed and how often”

  Don’t Know/Uncategorizable

21%

  Example: “More research done”, “I don’t know”

  Response did not include statement about frequency

26.1%