Mammographers' perception of women's breast cancer risk.
OBJECTIVE
To understand mammographers' perception of individual women's breast cancer risk.


METHODS
Radiologists interpreting screening mammography examinations completed a mailed survey consisting of questions pertaining to demographic and clinical practice characteristics, as well as 2 vignettes describing different risk profiles of women. Respondents were asked to estimate the probability of a breast cancer diagnosis in the next 5 years for each vignette. Vignette responses were plotted against mean recall rates in actual clinical practice.


RESULTS
The survey was returned by 77% of eligible radiologists. Ninety-three percent of radiologists overestimated risk in the vignette involving a 70-year-old woman; 96% overestimated risk in the vignette involving a 41-year-old woman. Radiologists who more accurately estimated breast cancer risk were younger, worked full-time, were affiliated with an academic medical center, had fellowship training, had fewer than 10 years experience interpreting mammograms, and worked more than 40% of the time in breast imaging. However, only age was statistically significant. No association was found between radiologists' risk estimate and their recall rate.


CONCLUSIONS
U.S. radiologists have a heightened perception of breast cancer risk.
Egger
Joseph R
JR
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA.
Cutter
Gary R
GR
Carney
Patricia A
PA
Taplin
Stephen H
SH
Barlow
William E
WE
Hendrick
R Edward
RE
D'Orsi
Carl J
CJ
Fosse
Jessica S
JS
Abraham
Linn
L
Elmore
Joann G
JG
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003120:Colorado; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009513:New Hampshire; D015205:Northwestern United States; D010465:Perception; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires