Rural racial disparities and barriers in mammography utilization among Medicare beneficiaries in Texas: A longitudinal study

Zhaoli Liu, Yong Shan, Yong Fang Kuo, Sharon H. Giordano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examined rural racial/ethnic disparities in long-term mammography screening practices among Medicare beneficiaries. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using 100% Texas Medicare data for women aged 65-74 who enrolled in Medicare between 2010-2013. Of the 114,939 eligible women, 21.2% of Hispanics, 33.3% of non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), and 38.4% non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) in rural areas were regular users of mammography, compared to 33.5%, 44.9%, and 45.3% of their counterparts in urban areas, respectively. Stratification analyses showed rural Hispanics and NHB were 33% (95% CI, 25% - 40%) and 22% (95% CI, 6% - 36%) less likely to be regular users of mammography compared to their urban counterparts. Major barriers to routine mammography screening included the lack of a primary care provider, frequent hospitalization, and comorbidity. The findings of this study highlight the importance of addressing rural racial disparities in mammography utilization among older women to ensure equitable screening practices for all populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14-20
Number of pages7
JournalGeriatric Nursing
Volume55
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2024

Keywords

  • Breast cancer screening
  • Mammography
  • Racial disparity
  • Rural disparity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gerontology

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