Effects of a Web-based intervention on women’s breast health behaviors

Helping women make choices to reduce cancer risk and to improve breast health behaviors is important, but the best ways to
reach more people with intervention assistance is not known. To test the efficacy of a Web-based intervention designed to
help women make better breast health choices, we adapted our previously tested, successful breast health intervention package
to be delivered on the Internet, and then we tested it in a randomized trial. We recruited women from the general public to
be randomized to either an active intervention group or a delayed intervention control group. The intervention consisted of
a specialized Web site providing tailored and personalized risk information to all participants, followed by offers of additional
support if needed. Follow-up at 1-year post-randomization revealed significant improvements in mammography screening in intervention
women compared with control women (improvement of 13 percentage points). The intervention effects were more powerful in women
who increased breast health knowledge and decreased cancer worry during intervention. These data indicate that increases in
mammography can be accomplished in population-based mostly insured samples by implementing this simple, low resource intensive
intervention.