Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate health beliefs associated with repeat mammography screening in African American women 51 years or older over a 5-year period. Long-term repeat mammography screening is inconsistent in African American women; therefore, this study measured demographic, knowledge, and health belief predictors of repeat screening. The theoretical framework for this study was the health belief model. Baseline data from a larger randomized controlled trial were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The sample consisted of 602 African American women with no breast cancer history and at least 1 reported screening mammogram in the past 5 years. They were recruited from 3 primary care health settings. Having been screened 4 to 5 times in the past 5 years was associated with more knowledge about screening guidelines and fewer perceived barriers to screening. Results point to the importance of collaborating with African American communities to promote life-long mammography screening by increasing access to culturally appropriate information on screening guidelines and ameliorating barriers to screening within the context of the African American experience.