The Article in Brief

As described in the November/December 2004 issue of the Annals, a system was developed to promote three cancer screening tests (mammograms, Pap smears, and fecal occult blood tests) in primary care clinics that serve disadvantaged patients. In this follow-up study, researchers found that after 2 years, the system had an ongoing, but modest, effect on screening for cancer. Patients who received care at a clinic using the system were up-to-date on a greater number of targeted screening tests and had 26% greater odds of mammography screening compared with other patients. The system still had an effect after 2 years, but the effect was less than it had been at 1 year. Further work is needed to develop longer term solutions.