Australian General Practitioners’ Current Knowledge, Understanding, and Feelings Regarding Breast Density Information and Notification: A Cross-Sectional Study
Access status:
Open Access
Type
ArticleAuthor/s
Dolan, HankizMcCaffery, Kirsten
Houssami, Nehmat
Brennan, Meagan
Dorrington, Melanie
Cvejic, Erin
Hersch, Jolyn
Verde, Angela
Vaccaro, Lisa
Nickel, Brooke
Abstract
Background: There is a lack of evidence around Australian general practitioners’ (GPs) views of issues surrounding breast density. The current study aimed to quantitatively assess GPs’ current knowledge, understanding, and feelings around breast density information and notification. ...
See moreBackground: There is a lack of evidence around Australian general practitioners’ (GPs) views of issues surrounding breast density. The current study aimed to quantitatively assess GPs’ current knowledge, understanding, and feelings around breast density information and notification. Methods: This study involved a cross-sectional survey using an online platform to collect quantitative data from Australian GPs. Survey data were analysed with descriptive statistics. Results: A total 60 responses from GPs were analysed. Most (n = 58; 97%) had heard or read about breast density and nearly 90% (n = 52; 87%) have had discussions about breast density with patients. Three-quarters (n = 45; 75%) were supportive of making breast density notification mandatory for patients with dense tissue and a similar proportion (n = 45/58; 78%) felt they need or want more education on breast density. Conclusions: There is strong support for notifying patients of breast density, and interest in further education and training among the surveyed GPs. As GPs play a central role in cancer prevention and control, their involvement in discussions related to breast density notification, evaluation and appraisal of evidence, development of communication strategies, and participation in ongoing research on the topic will be indispensable.
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See moreBackground: There is a lack of evidence around Australian general practitioners’ (GPs) views of issues surrounding breast density. The current study aimed to quantitatively assess GPs’ current knowledge, understanding, and feelings around breast density information and notification. Methods: This study involved a cross-sectional survey using an online platform to collect quantitative data from Australian GPs. Survey data were analysed with descriptive statistics. Results: A total 60 responses from GPs were analysed. Most (n = 58; 97%) had heard or read about breast density and nearly 90% (n = 52; 87%) have had discussions about breast density with patients. Three-quarters (n = 45; 75%) were supportive of making breast density notification mandatory for patients with dense tissue and a similar proportion (n = 45/58; 78%) felt they need or want more education on breast density. Conclusions: There is strong support for notifying patients of breast density, and interest in further education and training among the surveyed GPs. As GPs play a central role in cancer prevention and control, their involvement in discussions related to breast density notification, evaluation and appraisal of evidence, development of communication strategies, and participation in ongoing research on the topic will be indispensable.
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Date
2022Source title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthVolume
15Issue
15Publisher
MDPIFunding information
NHMRC 1113532
NHMRC 1194108
NHMRC 1121110
NHMRC 1194410
National Breast Cancer Foundation (grant #EC-21-001)
Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowship (2020ECF1158)
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0Faculty/School
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public HealthShare