Despite the fact that breast density notification laws have been in effect in some states since 2009, confusion about breast density itself and whether a woman should get supplemental screening persists, according to a study published August 16 in Academic Radiology.
A team led by Dr. Randy Miles of Massachusetts General Hospital sent a survey to 1,000 women undergoing screening mammography over two separate one-week periods to assess their awareness and knowledge of breast density. The survey included questions about the women's sociodemographic factors, breast density knowledge, legislation awareness, and medical decision-making intent.
Of the women who received the survey, 338 responded. The researchers found the following:
- 61.2% of the women were surprised to receive a breast density notification letter.
- 89.9% were unaware of breast density notification legislation.
- 54.7% self-reported having dense breast tissue.
- 61.1% of women with dense tissue stated that this increased their breast cancer risk.
- 63.8% of women with dense tissue intended to follow up their mammography exam with a health practitioner, compared with 50.8% of women without dense tissue.
- 45.1% of women with dense tissue believed supplemental screening was necessary, compared with 15.4% of women without dense tissue.
Despite receiving information about breast density in general and about their personal breast density in particular, respondents showed a general misconception of breast cancer risk related to density, which suggests that efforts to educate women on the topic could use improvement, according to Miles and colleagues.
"[Our] findings suggest that mailed written notification may not be sufficient in educating women about their breast density," the group concluded. "Additionally, breast density notification may potentially propagate misinformation, if materials are misunderstood, which may lead to increased patient anxiety and patient requests for unnecessary testing."
