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Is molecular breast imaging suitable for use in UK breast cancer pathways? A qualitative study exploring healthcare
Helen Elliott1,2, A Joy Allen2,3, Nerys D Forester2,4
1Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK helen.elliott13@nhs.net.
Objectives:
To explore healthcare professionals' perspectives on the potential role of molecular breast imaging (MBI) for breast cancer imaging and to inform future clinical study design and implementation.
Design:
Qualitative interview study.
Setting:
UK National Health Service (NHS) breast screening and diagnostic pathways.
Participants:
Purposively sampled stakeholders.
Method:
Semistructured interviews with key professional stakeholders explored potential MBI pathways and routes to adoption, including barriers and facilitators. Data were analysed thematically.
Results:
22 participants were recruited between January 2020 and October 2021. Barriers to MBI adoption were identified at three levels: scan-related, system-level, and cultural within the screening programme. Overcoming these is likely necessary for implementation. A further theme highlighted the potential for MBI to improve screening in selected patient groups, contingent on addressing these barriers. Specifically, adoption would require advances in next-generation MBI systems, particularly reductions in radiation dose and scan time, alongside prospective clinical studies in UK populations to assess diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusions:
Once identified barriers are overcome, participants perceived that MBI could improve screening pathways, particularly for women with dense breast tissue.
