Project ScanVan: Mobile mammography services to decrease socioeconomic barriers and racial disparities among medically underserved women in NYC.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether, with access to free screening services, uninsured minority women in NYC are able to successfully manage existing barriers to breast cancer screening. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study, with permission to use de-identified data received from Project Renewal's ScanVan in 2019. Project Renewal ScanVan provides clinical breast exams, mammograms, and health education to low-income women. The screening mammograms were conducted in the ScanVan and read by a board-certified radiologist. The electronic medical records were reviewed with respect to the patients' BI-RADS category, insurance status, race, and age. Descriptive statistics were performed and cancer detection rate, recall rate, and positive predictive values (PPV1, PPV2, PPV3) were calculated. RESULTS: In 2019, 66% (2499 of 3745) of patients who used the ScanVan were Hispanic & African American. 43% (1627 of 3745) of the women were uninsured, 15% (579 of 3745) of the women had Medicare, and 18% (676 of 3745) classified as other. 17 out of 3745 patients screened received a new diagnosis of breast cancer, corresponding to a cancer detection rate of 4.5/1000 screened. 258 were recalled, corresponding with a recall rate of 7%. The PPV1 was 6.5% (17/258); PPV2 was 29.8% (17/57); and PPV3 was 34% (17/50). CONCLUSION: Barriers to breast cancer screening include lack of medical insurance, limited access to care, and the absence of a primary care physician. The mobile mammography screening van successfully overcame such barriers, providing uninsured women from racial minority groups with vital breast cancer screening and follow up care.
