Barriers to Mammography: How Social Determinants of Health and Health-Related Social Needs Affect Breast Cancer Screening

Adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) can be barriers to receiving mammograms
Breast cancer is a serious health concern for women
Mammography is recommended to screen for the disease
Social isolation, life dissatisfaction, cost as a barrier to healthcare access are strongly associated with decreased mammography use.
Barriers to Mammography: How Social Determinants of Health and Health-Related Social Needs Affect Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer is a serious health concern for women, and mammography is recommended to screen for the disease. However, adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) can be barriers to receiving mammograms. Social isolation, life dissatisfaction, cost as a barrier to healthcare access are strongly associated with decreased mammography use.


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Confidence

100%

Doubts
  • None.

Sources

61%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Lower-income US women more likely to miss key breast cancer test, study finds

theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Jessica Glenza Tuesday, 09 April 2024 20:20
  • Unique Points
    • Women who are low-income, socially isolated and lack health insurance are far less likely to be up-to-date on mammograms
    • <p>Mammography use varied by state and sociodemographics, but the study found that more health-related social needs (HRSNs) were associated with less likely women to get a mammogram. HRSNs are barriers that impact a person’s health or healthcare access such as food insecurity and lack of reliable transportation.</p>
  • Accuracy
    • Approximately 40,000 U.S. women die from breast cancer each year.
    • ❥❯Women who are uninsured can get a mammogram for free through CDC's program available in all 50 states through health departments.❯
    • The study found six main health-related social needs linked to fewer mammograms: cost of care feeling socially isolated lack of transportation loss of work dissatisfaction with life receiving food stamps
  • Deception (30%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it implies that women who are low-income and socially isolated are less likely to get mammograms because they lack health insurance when the study actually found that these factors were associated with lower mammogram rates but not necessarily causation. Secondly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in American women without providing any context or statistics on how many women are affected each year. Thirdly, it implies that Black women have better access to healthcare than white women when they actually face higher rates of health disparities and systemic racism.
    • The article states that breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in American women without providing any context or statistics on how many women are affected each year. This statement is sensationalistic and misleading.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when citing Dr. Jacqueline Miller as a source for the study's findings and quotes her extensively throughout the article without providing any context or information about her qualifications or expertise in this specific area.
    • >Dr Jacqueline Miller, medical director of CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and one of the study’s lead authors. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing Dr. Miller as a source for the study's findings without providing any context or information about her qualifications or expertise in this specific area.
    • The result is surprising, because while Black women and white women are diagnosed with breast cancer at roughly the same rate, Black women are 40% more likely to die of the disease. The author uses a false dilemma by presenting only two options (diagnosis rates and death rates) without considering other factors that may contribute to disparities between demographics.
    • The study analyzed data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a landline and cellphone survey of the civilian population older than 18. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing this survey as a source for their information without providing any context or information about its reliability or validity.
  • Bias (75%)
    The article is biased towards the idea that women who are low-income and socially isolated are less likely to get mammograms. The author uses language like 'far less likely' and 'worse mammogram rates' to create a negative impression of these groups. Additionally, the author mentions Black women getting more mammograms overall but does not provide any context or explanation for this disparity.
    • Only 44% of women in Wyoming who experienced more than three kinds of social deprivation had a recent mammogram, compared with 78% in Rhode Island
      • The study found that fewer women got mammograms when they experienced other social deprivations
        • Women who are low-income, socially isolated and lack health insurance are far less likely to be up-to-date on mammograms
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          Jessica Glenza has a conflict of interest on the topic of breast cancer and mammograms as she is reporting for The Guardian which receives funding from organizations that advocate for increased access to healthcare. Additionally, Dr. Jacqueline Miller who was quoted in the article may have a financial stake in companies or industries related to health insurance.
          • The Guardian has received funding from organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Kaiser Family Foundation which advocate for increased access to healthcare.
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          85%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Vital Signs: Mammography Use and Association ...

          Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tuesday, 09 January 2024 00:00
          • Unique Points
            • Mammography is recommended to screen for breast cancer and reduce breast cancer mortality.
            • Adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) can be barriers to receiving mammograms.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (85%)
            The article contains examples of bias in the form of language that dehumanizes and demonizes certain groups. The author uses phrases such as 'approximately 40,000 U.S. women die from breast cancer each year' which implies a sense of urgency and fear around the topic, rather than presenting it objectively.
            • Approximately 40,000 U.S. women die from breast cancer each year.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            67%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            About one-third of socially vulnerable women missing recommended mammograms: CDC

            ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Wednesday, 10 April 2024 09:23
            • Unique Points
              • Social isolation
              • Life dissatisfaction
              • Lost or reduced hours of employment
              • ``Feeling socially isolated⟩ About a third are not.
              • ⟩Cost barriers to mammograms. 4,538 women between ages 51 and 74 were uninsured at the time of their last mammogram.
              • Lack of reliable public transportation
              • ⟩Social isolation, life dissatisfaction, lost or reduced hours of employment. 41.5% were uninsured at the time of their last mammogram.
            • Accuracy
              • `abeing on food stamps⟩and lack of reliable public transportation are all associated with not having had a mammogram within the previous two years.
              • Women who are low-income, socially isolated and lack health insurance are far less likely to be up-to-date on mammograms
              • Having routine mammograms can save lives as they help detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and the chances of dying from the disease are lower.
              • `aDr. Debra Houry, CDC chief medical officer suggests that doctors can screen women for these needs when they are meeting with a patient and connect them to community services.⟩
              • The reasons why women aren't getting their mammograms every two years include cost for access to care, food insecurity, lack of transportation, loss of work and feeling socially isolated.
              • `aIdentifying these challenges and coordinating efforts between health care, social services, community organizations and public health to help address these needs could improve efforts to increase breast cancer screening and ultimately save these tragic losses to families.⟩
            • Deception (50%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that thousands of women are not receiving life-saving mammograms but does not provide any context or data to support this claim. Secondly, the article uses sensationalist language such as 'life-saving' and 'tragic losses' which is misleading and exaggerated. Thirdly, the article quotes a study that found associations between lower mammography use and HRSNs but does not provide any details about the specific findings of this study or how it was conducted. Fourthly, the article uses selective reporting by only mentioning some examples of HRSNs while ignoring others such as lack of access to affordable housing or discrimination based on race or ethnicity. Lastly, the article quotes experts who state that mammograms reduce breast cancer deaths but does not provide any context about the limitations and potential harms associated with these screenings.
              • Thousands of women between ages 50 and 74 are not receiving life-saving mammograms, according to new federal data.
            • Fallacies (70%)
              The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a source without providing any context or information about the study's methodology or limitations. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing breast cancer deaths as
              • The article contains several examples of informal fallacies.
              • The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without providing any context or information about the study's methodology or limitations.
            • Bias (85%)
              The article from ABC News reports on a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found one-third of socially vulnerable women between ages 50 and 74 are not receiving recommended mammograms. The author uses language that dehumanizes these women, referring to them as 'socially vulnerable' which implies they are helpless victims rather than individuals with agency. Additionally, the article repeatedly mentions the number of SDOHs or HRSNs a woman has without providing any context for what those numbers mean or how they were determined. This creates an impression that these women are somehow to blame for not getting mammograms, when in fact it is likely that systemic barriers and lack of access to healthcare are contributing factors.
              • The article repeatedly mentions the number of SDOHs or HRSNs a woman has without providing any context for what those numbers mean or how they were determined. This creates an impression that these women are somehow to blame for not getting mammograms, when in fact it is likely that systemic barriers and lack of access to healthcare are contributing factors.
                • The author uses language that dehumanizes these women, referring to them as 'socially vulnerable' which implies they are helpless victims rather than individuals with agency.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  ABC News has a conflict of interest on the topic of mammograms and breast cancer as they are owned by The Walt Disney Company which owns several pharmaceutical companies that produce drugs used in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Additionally, ABC News is part of a larger media conglomerate that may have financial ties to these pharmaceutical companies.
                  • ABC News is owned by The Walt Disney Company which owns several pharmaceutical companies that produce drugs used in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    ABC News has a conflict of interest on the topic of mammograms and breast cancer as they are owned by Disney which also owns ESPN. Additionally, ABC News is part of The Walt Disney Company which operates in various industries that may be affected by policies related to health-related social needs (HRSNs) and social determinants of health (SDOHs).
                    • ABC News is owned by Disney which also owns ESPN.
                      • The Walt Disney Company operates in various industries that may be affected by policies related to HRSNs and SDOHs.

                      63%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      Data shows women are not getting recommended screenings for breast cancer

                      CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ CBSColorado.com Staff Wednesday, 10 April 2024 09:24
                      • Unique Points
                        • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in four women ages 50 to 74 are not up to date with breast cancer screening.
                        • Having routine mammograms can save lives as they help detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and the chances of dying from the disease are lower.
                        • The reasons why women aren't getting their mammograms every two years include cost for access to care, food insecurity, lack of transportation, loss of work and feeling socially isolated.
                        • Dr. Debra Houry, CDC chief medical officer suggests that doctors can screen women for these needs when they are meeting with a patient and connect them to community services.
                        • The American Cancer Society reports that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, accounting for about 30% of all new female cancers each year.
                        • Women who are uninsured can get a mammogram for free through CDC's program available in all 50 states through health departments.
                      • Accuracy
                        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                      • Deception (30%)
                        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it implies that women are not getting recommended screenings for breast cancer when the data actually shows that one in four women ages 50 to 74 are not up to date with breast cancer screening. This is a lie by omission as the article fails to mention that this number represents only those who have had mammograms and does not include all women. Secondly, it quotes Dr. Debra Houry stating that having these screening mammograms can save lives which contradicts current research showing no correlation between routine mammography and breast cancer mortality rates. Lastly, the article implies that lack of access to care is a reason for not getting screened when in fact food insecurity, lack of transportation, loss of work and feeling socially isolated are also mentioned as reasons.
                        • The data actually shows that one in four women ages 50 to 74 are not up to date with breast cancer screening. This is a lie by omission as the article fails to mention that this number represents only those who have had mammograms and does not include all women.
                        • Dr. Debra Houry stated having these screening mammograms can save lives which contradicts current research showing no correlation between routine mammography and breast cancer mortality rates.
                      • Fallacies (70%)
                        The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without providing any context or explanation of how these statistics were obtained. Secondly, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either women are getting recommended screenings for breast cancer or they are not. This oversimplifies a complex issue and ignores other factors that may be contributing to low screening rates. Thirdly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that one in four women ages 50 to 74 is not up-to-date with breast cancer screenings, without providing any context or explanation of what this means for their health outcomes. Finally, the author commits a hasty generalization by assuming that all uninsured women are unable to access mammograms through the CDC's program in all 50 states.
                        • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says routine mammograms are critical for detecting breast cancer early, which is when it’s easier to treat and chances of dying from the disease are lower.
                        • Those reasons include the cost for access to care, food insecurity, lack of transportation, loss of work and feeling socially isolated.
                        • Aside from skin cancers , breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States
                        • <https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/data-shows-women-not-getting-recommended-screenings/>
                      • Bias (75%)
                        The article contains a statement that women are not getting the recommended screenings for breast cancer. The author does not provide any evidence to support this claim and only quotes Dr. Debra Houry stating reasons why some women may not be getting their mammograms every two years such as cost, food insecurity, lack of transportation, loss of work and feeling socially isolated.
                        • A new CDC vital signs report shows one in four women ages 50 to 74 are not up to date with breast cancer screening.
                          • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says routine mammograms are critical for detecting breast cancer early
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                            The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of breast cancer screening as they are reporting for CBSColorado.com which is owned by ViacomCBS, a company that owns several media outlets including MTV and Nickelodeon. These companies have financial ties to pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers who may benefit from increased screenings.
                            • The article mentions the American Cancer Society's recommendation for breast cancer screening but does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest between CBSColorado.com and this organization.

                            69%

                            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                            Money, time are main reasons women skip mammograms

                            WRAL News Unknown WRAL Tuesday, 09 April 2024 21:03
                            • Unique Points
                              • Approximately 40,000 U.S. women die from breast cancer each year.
                              • Mammography is recommended to screen for breast cancer and reduce breast cancer mortality.
                              • Adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) can be barriers to receiving mammograms.
                            • Accuracy
                              • Mammography is recommended to screen for breast cancer and reduce breast cancer mortality.
                            • Deception (30%)
                              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the idea that women are skipping mammograms due to cost and lack of transportation when in fact these were not found to be significant barriers according to the study. Secondly, it implies that there is a one-size-fits-all approach for reducing access issues which was also debunked by Dr. Miller who stated that understanding individual needs is crucial for addressing them effectively.
                              • The article states 'cost of care' as the biggest barrier to keeping up with routine mammograms, but according to the study it wasn't found to be a significant barrier.
                            • Fallacies (75%)
                              The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when citing statistics from the CDC and quotes from Dr. Miller without providing any context or evidence for their credibility. Additionally, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options for addressing access issues: either provide transportation or not provide it at all.
                              • The more health-related social needs someone has, the less likely they are to have a mammogram
                              • People still don't have things. Maybe you have a car, but if your nearest heath provider is 45 minutes away and if you don't have gas to drive 45 minutes there and back, that's still a problem
                            • Bias (85%)
                              The article contains examples of monetary bias and religious bias. The author uses the phrase 'cost of care' to describe a barrier for women getting mammograms which implies that cost is solely responsible for not receiving annual mammograms.
                              • > About a third are not
                                • <em>People still don’t have things</em>
                                  • The study found six main health-related social needs linked to fewer mammograms:
                                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                    None Found At Time Of Publication