Communicating Change: Reaching The People Who Need To Know

Someone asked me how the African American and Latino communities have responded to all of the talk about the mammography guidelines changes. My response was, well, those who have no insurance have probably missed the entire episode and those with insurance and looking to avoid mammography are now convinced to do so. We know that researchers and physicians are going to write many, many editorials in response to the USPSTF mammography guidelines change. They’ll be published in CA, Cancer, and other journals and, of course, the NYT, Post and WSJ.

So I propose this, I’ll take what they write and translate it into common-woman language and try to get it published in Essence, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Oprah, Latina Style, community newspapers, blogs, Facebook, etc. I’m not aware that the uninsured or average insured woman is reading Cancer or the NYT. It’s time we take the issues to the community, clearly and respectfully. That’s health promotion! Here are the ACS guidelines which have not changed: Starting at age 40, women, of average risk, should have a screening mammogram every year.