Breast density notifications leave many women in the dark, survey results suggest - Health Imaging

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They found that most women (80%) preferred learning about their breast density and accompanying risks from providers, rather than letters. These findings were more prevalent among Non-Hispanic Black women (85%) compared to Non-Hispanic White (80%) and Asian women (72%). The opposite was true for women with low literacy, who preferred written notification over personal communication. Women with high literacy most often favored learning of their results via an online portal.

The researchers noted that women with low literacy or those who do not speak English as a first language might prefer having written notifications as back up if they are unable to process verbal communications confidently.

“The explanations women provided helped clarify that written information gives them an opportunity to look up the definitions of words they do not understand, to reread the information, and to take time to process it,” the authors explained.

In the interviews, many women described the notifications as impersonal, confusing and sometimes concerning. Many cited wanting to speak with a doctor about what high breast density meant for their health, but that they understood providers are “overworked and overwhelmed.”

“A multi-modal notification (e.g., a letter accompanied by an educational brochure or links to online information including visuals), and provision of opportunities to speak with a clinician to ask questions and receive personalized information and guidance, would meet more women’s needs than the single-mode DBN letters currently in use,” the experts concluded.

The entire study can be viewed in the journal, Patient Education and Counseling.