Project Description:
Training Mammography Technologists on Screening Women with Disabilities
In the US, women with disabilities are less likely to receive routine mammography than women without disabilities.1 Research has explained this discrepancy by showing that women with disabilities often face physical and attitudinal barriers to accessing health care.2 The physical and environmental barriers that people with disabilities confront include inadequate transportation, inaccessibility of offices and of medical equipment, lack of provider knowledge, and provider and staff insensitivity to needs.3,4
Mammography facility staff represents a key point of contact in the breast health care continuum. A client who has one negative experience receiving a mammogram may be deterred form returning for subsequent mammograms for years to come. On the other hand, a positive mammography experience where the facility is accessible and the staff are competent in communication and serving women with disabilities is likely to encourage a client to seek routine preventative mammograms and may also empower her to take additional proactive steps to ensure her own breast health, such as obtaining regular clinical breast exams, openly communicating concerns to her health care provider, and seeking follow-up care if needed. Educating mammography technologists and front-line staff is, therefore, fundamental to any effort to increase screening rates for women with disabilities.
OODH is proposing to provide two presentations at the Oregon Society of Radiologists Technologists annual Mammography Technologists conference in Portland, Oregon on May 3, 2014. The first presentation will be a panel of 4 women with various disabilities, moderated by a woman who is deaf, who will provide information on, 1) disability and health data, 2) appropriate attitudes, etiquette and communication when working with women with disabilities, and 3) how to respond to appointment and scheduling needs of women with disabilities. The afternoon presentation will be provided by an expert Mammography Technologist who will share her expertise on positioning techniques when screening women with mobility impairments.
The Goal and Outcomes of the training are as follows:
Goal: Increase the knowledge and skills of mammography technologists to provide culturally competent, accessible, and high quality mammograms to women with disabilities.
Outcomes for Mammography Technologists include:
Identify barriers and solutions in providing mammography screening;
Utilize tools and resources to better serve women with disabilities;
Increase disability awareness, sensitivity, communication skills and knowledge that will promote breast cancer screening for women with disabilities, i.e., women with physical disabilities, sensory disabilities and cognitive limitations; and
Enhance mammography technologists positioning skills and techniques for when they are conducting mammograms for women with physical disabilities.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
