Factors to Consider in Developing Breast Cancer Risk Models to Implement into Clinical Care

This article outlines considerations for individuals interested in developing and implementing breast cancer risk models and has relevance for individuals developing risk-models with the goal of implementing them into health systems.

There has been increased focus on developing risk models for clinical use-often with less attention model implementation. Epidemiologists developing risk-models must think through model outcomes including stakeholder needs, time horizons, terminology and reference groups and clarity on what actionable steps are for health systems, providers and patients following its implementation.

Model performance needs to be evaluated relative to complexity of the model to be implemented-not just from the risk-prediction perspective, but also from the burden on patients, providers and systems for the amount and frequency of required data collection and with clear actionable steps to be taken with the information collected.