Predictors of mammography use in older women with disability: the patients’ perspectives

To determine the factors associated with mammography use among Medicare beneficiaries and reasons for nonuse. Cohort of 4610 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years included in the 2004–2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Regression models evaluated the association of disability with mammography use. Reasons for underuse are described. Women with disability were more likely than women with no disability to report lower mammography use (unadjusted, moderate disability OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.64, 0.91; severe disability OR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.40, 0.54). Lower use was significant for women with severe disability (adjusted, OR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.83) and women with fair-poor self-rated health, no HMO enrollment and ≥3 comorbidities. No physician recommendation, no need, dislike/pain during the test and forget it were reasons for underutilization. Mammography use decreases with increasing level of disability. Common reasons for underutilization are no physician recommendation, no need, dislike/pain during the test and forgot it. Screening guidelines should be used to target women with disabilities who can benefit from mammography.