A new study led by Susan Holman, DrPH, RN, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor and STAR Program HIV Projects Director, examined the relationship between health care empowerment and mammography screening among women living with HIV. Using data from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS), a landmark national research effort studying HIV in women, the team found that women who were more informed, committed, collaborative, and engaged in their care were significantly more likely to receive a mammogram. Notably, rates of mammography among participants were comparable to those of the general U.S. population, suggesting that long-term engagement in care can help close screening gaps. These findings underscore the importance of patient empowerment as a modifiable factor that can improve cancer screening and outcomes for women aging with HIV, and highlight opportunities for providers to incorporate empowerment strategies into clinical practice.

Read the full article in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care here.

Holman S, Bruno D, Saint Fleur-Calixte R, Johnson M, Weber K, Ramirez C, Konkle-Parker D, Sharma A, Alcaide M, Merenstein D, Topper E, Farah-Abraham R, Wilson T. Mammography Screening Among Women Living With HIV in the United States: A Quantitative Analysis of the Role of Health Care Empowerment. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. 2025;36(5):516–528. doi:10.1097/JNC.0000000000000563