The use of preventive health services among elderly uterine cancer survivors

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine whether women who survived uterine cancer received 4 recommended preventive services (mammography, colorectal cancer screening, influenza immunization, and bone density testing) at the same rates as women with no history of cancer.

Study design: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database to compare the rates among survivors aged 67 years or older with a matched group of women with no history of cancer.

Results: Survivors were significantly more likely to have a mammogram (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-1.50) or a colorectal cancer screening examination (adjusted OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.18). Influenza immunization and bone density testing rates were similar. The 28% of survivors seen by an obstetrician-gynecologist or gynecologic oncologist had the highest rates of use.

Conclusion: Efforts need to be made to increase the use of services by all women to achieve the target rates established by Healthy People 2010.