Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of death among Latinas in the United States. The Multi-level Intervention to Increase Participation in Mammography Screening study (!Fortaleza Latina!) is a partnership among research institutions, a Latino-serving community-based primary care clinic organization, and a cancer treatment center. The study will assess the efficacy of a clinic-and patient-level program to increase breast cancer screening among Latinas in Western Washington. Methods/design: The intervention is a multi-level breast cancer screening program in four participating primary care clinics. The study is a parallel randomized controlled trial of 600 Latino women aged 42-74 who are non-compliant with breast cancer screening guidelines. Participants will be randomized within clinic using block randomization to: (1) a control arm (usual care); and (2) a theory-based counseling program consisting of a 'promotora' or community health worker-led home-based intervention to encourage breast cancer screening. At the clinic-level, two clinics will offer additional mammography services provided by a mobile mammography unit operated by the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The primary endpoint is the rate of mammography uptake over the 1-year follow-up period. Discussion: This multi-level intervention aims to raise rates of participation in breast cancer screening among Latino women. If effective, the program may improve rates of early detection of breast cancer in Latino women. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.