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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Clinical Imaging of Microwave Mammography
Published on: November 14, 2025
Assessing Patient Satisfaction with Mammography Using Patient-Reported Measures: A Prospective Observational Study
Gaia Garuffi1, Dirk Lehnick2, Gioia Fischer1
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, University Teaching and Research Hospital, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Breast Care (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Patient satisfaction with digital mammography (DM) is mainly influenced by staff communication and comfort measures, not clinical factors. Improving these aspects can enhance patient experience and adherence to breast cancer screening.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Patient Experience Research
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Negative mammography experiences can decrease patient adherence to breast cancer screening.
- Patient-reported measures for the diagnostic pathway are limited, especially in general radiology departments.
- Digital mammography (DM) satisfaction is crucial for adherence and requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate patient satisfaction with digital mammography (DM) using a patient-reported experience measure (PREM).
- To identify personal, clinical, and procedural factors associated with DM satisfaction.
- To establish quality-assurance targets for optimizing mammography services.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 549 women undergoing DM or digital breast tomosynthesis.
- Utilized a validated 23-item PREM questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction.
- Employed statistical analyses including Fisher's exact test, Kendall's tau-b, and logistic regression; free-text comments were thematically analyzed.
Main Results:
- Overall satisfaction with DM was high (78%).
- Satisfaction was significantly linked to personal factors (anxiety, pain, age) and procedural factors (radiographer communication, comfort measures).
- Immediate radiologist consultation and positive staff interactions strongly correlated with higher satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Patient satisfaction in general radiology departments is primarily driven by modifiable procedural and interpersonal factors.
- Effective radiographer communication and efforts to reduce patient discomfort are key determinants of satisfaction.
- Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) are valuable tools for quality improvement in mammography services.