Same-day results could increase breast cancer screening compliance, study shows
Many women who receive their mammogram results on the same day as their exam report feeling better about their overall experience.
That’s according to a new analysis shared recently in BMC Women’s Health, where experts shared the insight they gained from women's reported experiences with same day services [1].
“Most women undergoing screening examinations in the U.S. do not receive immediate results and for many this results in increased stress, inconvenience, delayed diagnosis, and potential loss to follow-up,” corresponding author Biren A. Shah, from the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Detroit Medical Center, and co-authors reported. “Multiple studies have raised concerns on screening related anxiety among women due to delay in test results stressing upon the need for expeditious and reliable screening services.”
Shah and colleagues’ urban academic institution provides women with the option of same day results following routine screening mammograms. In most cases, the women are able to receive their results in 30 minutes of less following their exam. If those results warrant additional imaging, any necessary exams are also completed during the same visit. Between June 2020 and November 2020, experts involved in this process distributed surveys to 200 women who took advantage of the offering to gauge whether the option had any impact on their experiences.
Out of the 185 responses the six-question survey garnered, 48% of women indicated that the same day services improved their annual mammogram experience. In comparison, 47% reported no significant differences.
Though those specific measurements did not reach statistical significance, other measures—such as a willingness to return to the facility for same day services during their next screening and recommending same day appointments to family and friends—indicated that the offering was well received by the majority of the participants (96.7%).
“Breast Cancer screening is associated with anxiety and distress which in turn has been shown to be related to reduced compliance in breast cancer screening,” the authors wrote. “Further multi-institutional studies and controlled trials may highlight the benefit that same day appointment results can have on increasing patient satisfaction by decreasing the time that elapses between screening and notification of mammography results.”
The full study can be viewed here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.