Breast cancer screening in younger women.

1502 Background: The 2009 US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines for breast cancer screening have proven controversial. Previously, annual screening was recommended for women over 40, but new guidelines recommend screening only for high risk women under 50. Other guidelines still recommend annual screening for young women on the basis of reduction in breast cancer mortality. In a population of rural insured women we sought to determine which younger women received mammograms, and the factors that motivate them to do so. Methods: Surveys were mailed to 1,000 randomly selected women between the ages of 40 and 49, insured by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). A study specific survey evaluated screening patterns, knowledge of guidelines, and sociodemographic information. Results: Overall, 639 women responded (response rate 63.9%). Median age was 45, 92% were white, 75% resided in rural areas, and 34% reported 4 year college education. The majority (67%) had a screeni...