Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Program (Griffin Hospital study)
Complete Project
Title:
Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Program (Griffin Hospital study)
Status:
Completed
Topic:
Evaluation Services
Funding Source:
Susan B. Komen Foundation
Funding Period:
2012-2013
Purpose:
In 2012, the Griffin Hospital Valley Parish Nurse Program received funding to promote breast cancer awareness and screening in the Valley communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. Valley communities had previously been found to breast cancer mortality rates exceeding those for the state of Connecticut.
Further Study Details:
The Parish Nurses: provided outreach and education on breast cancer awareness at community sites such as churches, libraries, food banks, senior centers, libraries, farmers’ markets, and local businesses; helped women schedule mammograms; and offered 50 free mammograms at Griffin Hospital to uninsured and/or underinsured women. They administered a demographic survey and Breast Health Quiz to assess changes in breast health knowledge among those attending educational sessions. The PRC served as program evaluator.
Findings:
The Parish Nurses provided outreach and education to more than 4000 community residents. Of these, 898 (886 women and 12 men) completed the demographic survey, and 84 who attended education sessions completed the pre/post Breast Health Quiz. Among those who completed the survey, most had received a mammogram either during the last year (42%), the last 1-4 years (31%), or at least 5 years ago (5%), while 22% had never had a mammogram. Most of those who had never had a mammogram were younger than 40 years, the age recommended for starting annual mammography. Those who completed the Breast Health Quiz had a statistically significant 10% gain in knowledge scores after attending education sessions.
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center