Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Communication, Professional

Date of Award

8-2004

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

John M. King, Kelly A. Dorgan

Committee Members

James E. Florence

Abstract

Today, mammography screening is the best method of detection for breast cancer, yet many women have never been screened and underprivileged, minority and rural women have lower screening rates then other populations. The purpose of this study, through individual interviews(N=88), was to understand the cues that women perceive to have received spurring them to participate in mammogram screening. The Health Belief Model guided this research. Media influence, Health Care Practitioner recommendation, social networks, and symptoms were the cues to action explored in this research prompting compliance to mammography screening. All four of these cues were found to influence women in screening behaviors. Family history emerged as a major overarching category as well as various cross categorical and emergent subcategories. This research provides support for the Health Belief Model and by exploring the data qualitatively, provides evidences for further research in communication cues to action prompting mammogram screening.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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