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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 communication and comfort, not clinical factors. Improving these procedural aspects can enhance patient experience and adherence to breast cancer screening.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Patient Experience Research
- Quality Improvement in Healthcare
Background:
- Negative mammography experiences can decrease patient adherence to screening.
- Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) for the mammography pathway are limited, especially in general radiology departments.
- This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with digital mammography (DM) and identify areas for quality improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate overall patient satisfaction with digital mammography (DM) using a tailored patient-reported experience measure (PREM).
- To examine associations between patient satisfaction and personal, clinical, and procedural factors.
- To identify actionable quality-assurance targets for mammography services in a general radiology setting.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 549 women (aged 29-88) undergoing DM or digital breast tomosynthesis.
- Utilized a validated 23-item PREM questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction.
- Analyzed associations between satisfaction and various factors using statistical tests (Fisher's exact test, Kendall's tau-b, logistic regression) and thematic analysis of free-text comments.
Main Results:
- 78% of participants reported full satisfaction with DM.
- Satisfaction was significantly linked to personal factors (anxiety, pain, age) and procedural factors (radiographer communication, efforts to reduce discomfort).
- Immediate consultation with a breast radiologist significantly increased satisfaction; clinical factors like cancer history or breast density did not show significant associations.
Conclusions:
- Patient satisfaction with DM in general radiology departments is primarily driven by modifiable procedural and interpersonal factors.
- Radiographer communication, efforts to minimize discomfort, and timely radiologist consultations are key determinants of satisfaction.
- PREMs are feasible for routine breast imaging and provide valuable data for optimizing patient-centered mammography services.