A letter is not enough: Women's preferences for and experiences of receiving breast density information.
Nancy R Kressin, Jolie B Wormwood, Tracy A Battaglia and 2 others
PMID 35534300WHAT IT FOUND
Most women wanted breast density information from a provider (80%), but low literacy women more often wanted a letter (21% versus 10%).
Offer written information plus a chance to ask questions.
Key findings
01Most women preferred receiving personal breast density information from a provider (80%), followed by a letter or notice (12%) or an online portal (7%).
02Women with low literacy were less likely to prefer provider information (76% compared with 81%) or an online portal (3% compared with 9%) and more likely to prefer a letter (21% compared with 10%).
03In interviews, women described letters as cold and wanted to ask questions; many also said one size does not fit all and asked for visuals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used self-report and recall, so exact notification experiences may be inaccurate. Qualitative interview participants were not linked to survey demographic data, so responses could not be checked against age, income, or other characteristics. The survey did not specify which type of provider gave the information, so it cannot distinguish radiologists, primary care clinicians, nurses, or other staff. The study reports preferences and experiences, not whether any notification format improved understanding, screening, or cancer outcomes.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include an author conflicts-of-interest statement. Publication types list NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 80% provider preference as proof that provider notification improves breast cancer detection or patient outcomes. The study measured preferences and reported experiences; it did not test a notification method against an outcome.