Australian Women’s Responses to Breast Density Information: A Content Analysis
Type
ArticleAuthor/s
Pandya, TanviLiu, Zixuan
Dolan, Hankiz
Hersch, Jolyn
Brennan, Meagan
Houssami, Nehmat
Nickel, Brooke
Abstract
Breast density (BD) is an independent risk factor for breast cancer and reduces mammographic sensitivity. This study explored women’s responses and intentions if notified that they had dense breasts. Methods: Content analysis was used to assess responses from a written questionnaire ...
See moreBreast density (BD) is an independent risk factor for breast cancer and reduces mammographic sensitivity. This study explored women’s responses and intentions if notified that they had dense breasts. Methods: Content analysis was used to assess responses from a written questionnaire undertaken in conjunction with focus groups on BD involving 78 Australian women aged 40–74. Results: Half the women reported that they would feel a little anxious if notified they had dense breasts, while 29.5% would not feel anxious. The most common theme (29.5%) related to anxiety was the psychosocial impact of the possibility of developing cancer, and women believed that being better informed could help with anxiety (26.9%). When asked what they would do if notified of having dense breasts, the most common response was to consult their doctor for information/advice (38.5%), followed by considering supplemental screening (23%). Consequently, when asked directly, 65.4% were interested in undergoing supplemental screening, while others (10.3%) said they “wouldn’t worry about it too much”. Discussion: These findings have important implications for health systems with population-based breast screening programs that are currently considering widespread BD notification in terms of the impact on women, health services and primary care.
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See moreBreast density (BD) is an independent risk factor for breast cancer and reduces mammographic sensitivity. This study explored women’s responses and intentions if notified that they had dense breasts. Methods: Content analysis was used to assess responses from a written questionnaire undertaken in conjunction with focus groups on BD involving 78 Australian women aged 40–74. Results: Half the women reported that they would feel a little anxious if notified they had dense breasts, while 29.5% would not feel anxious. The most common theme (29.5%) related to anxiety was the psychosocial impact of the possibility of developing cancer, and women believed that being better informed could help with anxiety (26.9%). When asked what they would do if notified of having dense breasts, the most common response was to consult their doctor for information/advice (38.5%), followed by considering supplemental screening (23%). Consequently, when asked directly, 65.4% were interested in undergoing supplemental screening, while others (10.3%) said they “wouldn’t worry about it too much”. Discussion: These findings have important implications for health systems with population-based breast screening programs that are currently considering widespread BD notification in terms of the impact on women, health services and primary care.
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Date
2023Source title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthVolume
20Issue
2Publisher
MDPIFunding information
NHMRC 1194410
NHMRC 1194108
Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowship (2020ECF1158)
NBCF Chair in Breast Cancer Prevention grant (EC-21-001)
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0Faculty/School
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public HealthShare