[Breast cancer screening : a tool for informed decision making].

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Decision Making
• Health Communication

Background:

• Public enthusiasm for breast cancer screening is high, but understanding of its benefits and drawbacks is often limited.
• Misconceptions about breast cancer screening can hinder informed decision-making.
• The Kenniscentrum initiated a study to provide neutral, evidence-based information on breast cancer screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empower women to make informed decisions about breast cancer screening.
• To present complex information on screening advantages and disadvantages in an accessible format.
• To develop decision aids aligned with international standards.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Belgian data and International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) criteria.
• Developed three visual graphical presentations tailored for different age groups (40-79 years).
• Messages focused on the burden of breast cancer, screening impact on detection and mortality, and mammography consequences.

Main Results:

• Created visual tools illustrating breast cancer's burden relative to other causes of death.
• Quantified the ten-year impact of screening versus no screening on detection and mortality.
• Visualized short- and mid-term consequences of mammography, including false positives and necessary follow-up investigations.

Conclusions:

• The developed visual tools support informed and shared decision-making for breast cancer screening.
• These decision aids are publicly available for download in French and Dutch.
• The resources can be accessed via the KCE website (https://kce.fgov.be, breast tab).