Financial, logistical reasons to blame for most missed cancer screenings
It may be more than anxiety and forgetfulness to blame for women missing their scheduled mammograms, according to new survey data.
Missed breast imaging appointments are not uncommon. In fact, prior research has suggested that breast imaging appointments account for the largest number of no-shows in imaging. This can be problematic for both practices and patients, experts explain in a new paper in Academic Radiology.
“When patients miss scheduled medical appointments, commonly referred to as clinic ‘no-shows,’ they lose opportunities for early detection and treatment of breast cancer and other conditions. Missed appointments can also delay care for other patients by reducing appointment availability and lengthening wait times,” Jessica H. Porembka, MD, with the department of radiology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues write. “Additionally, no-shows create financial strain on imaging practices by limiting revenue and leaving staff and equipment underutilized.”
To get a better understanding of what is behind this figure, the team surveyed 165 women who reported missing prior imaging exams. Participants were queried on the reasons that led them to skip or reschedule appointments, in addition to being asked to provide constructive feedback on factors that could improve attendance.
The most common reason for missing an exam was forgetting about the appointment, cited by 35% of respondents. Financial and logistical issues, however, also represented a significant barrier for many; 19% indicated that financial hardship prevented them from attending their appointment, while another 20% said they did not have transportation to get to their exam. Notably, respondents who fell under lower income brackets most often cited issues with payments and transportation. Notably, around 30% of the patients who missed their appointment never rescheduled.
In terms of improving follow through, respondents suggested that more frequent reminders would be beneficial; the majority signaled that text message reminders were the most effective. Other suggestions included some form of payment assistance and transportation services.
“These challenges align with broader literature demonstrating that financial strain and transportation issues frequently impede access to healthcare,” the authors noted. “Wolfe et al found that transportation barriers were more common among individuals living below the poverty threshold, Medicaid beneficiaries, Hispanic patients and those with functional limitations. Another study estimated that transportation difficulties led 3.6 million Americans to forego medical care each year, particularly among lower income, female, and older populations.”
The team noted that their findings highlight the need for patient-centered scheduling processes and knowledge of resources that could be of assistance.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.