Women's response to state-mandated language in dense breast notification

Breast J. 2018 Nov;24(6):1046-1050. doi: 10.1111/tbj.13119. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Abstract

Many states require radiologists to notify women of dense breast status. Our aim was to elicit women's response to state-mandated dense breast notification language. Of respondents, 82% report that current notification does not inform them of additional screening studies available, and 41% report notification does not inform them of next steps. Open-ended responses indicate three main areas of patient concern: Decisional Needs, Decision Quality, and Decision Support. We modified an existing Decision Support framework to capture additional themes specific to dense breast decisions. The developed framework can be used to revise and improve current breast density reporting methods.

Keywords: breast density; dense breast notification; legislation; mammography; shared decision making.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Density*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Decision Making
  • Female
  • Health Communication / standards*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Mammography*
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Tennessee