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Women's response to state-mandated language in dense breast notification
Lucy B Spalluto1,2, Christianne L Roumie2,3, Kemberlee R Bonnett4
1Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
The Breast Journal
|September 27, 2018
Summary
Most women find dense breast notifications uninformative about further screening options and next steps. Improving these notifications is crucial for informed patient decisions regarding breast density.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Women's Health
- Patient Communication
Background:
- State mandates require radiologists to notify women about dense breast status.
- Current notification language may not adequately inform patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand women's responses to state-mandated dense breast notification language.
- To identify areas for improvement in breast density reporting.
Main Methods:
- Survey of women regarding their understanding of dense breast notifications.
- Analysis of open-ended responses to identify patient concerns.
- Modification of a Decision Support framework.
Main Results:
- 82% of respondents felt notifications did not mention additional screening studies.
- 41% reported notifications did not clarify next steps.
- Patient concerns centered on Decisional Needs, Decision Quality, and Decision Support.
Conclusions:
- Current dense breast notification language is insufficient.
- A modified Decision Support framework can guide improvements.
- Revised reporting methods are needed to enhance patient understanding and decision-making.