Primary Care Management of Breast Cancer Screening

Author

Katelyn PhillipsFollow
Lainey Brown, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-6-2023

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Annie Imboden DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC

Project Team Faculty Member

Laurie Hopper DNP, FNP-C

Project Team Faculty Member

Cortney Patrick MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Keywords

mammography, outreach program, breast cancer screening, mammogram compliance, mammogram, breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer diagnosis and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Mammograms have been identified as an effective screening tool that can detect breast cancer in the early stages of the disease, before symptoms develop, and allow the possibility of a cure. The project aimed to identify women in the primary care setting with outstanding mammography orders and implement a more systemic outreach program to improve patient adherence. The intervention was a telephone outreach program in which the students conducting the project contacted patients with unsatisfied mammogram orders to determine a date and time that would work for a mammogram appointment. The primary outcomes that were measured included the effectiveness of identifying unfulfilled and/or overdue mammogram screenings, success in reaching patients to schedule mammogram appointments, and patient adherence to completing scheduled mammograms. The project demonstrated that an outreach program to improve mammogram screening adherence could be successfully implemented in a primary care setting. Patients have reported that the outreach program is convenient for them in terms of hassle-free scheduling and holding them accountable. Some patient limitations included patients who refused to get a mammogram despite education, declining due to lifestyle, busy schedule, insurance coverage, and declining due to comorbidities. Project limitations included staff limitations in the office, lack of call back direct line for scheduling, limited time for staff education, and EHR limitations. Primary care providers and office personnel can help to improve patient compliance rates by implementing an outreach program to assist in scheduling patient mammograms.

Recommended Citation

Phillips, Katelyn and Brown, Lainey, "Primary Care Management of Breast Cancer Screening" (2023). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 262.
https://spark.siue.edu/dnpprojects/262

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