Women's information needs about ductal carcinoma in situ before mammographic screening and after diagnosis: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the attitudes of women with screen-detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) towards information provision for mammographic screening.


METHODS
Respondents recruited throughout the UK during 2003-2004.


METHODS
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.


METHODS
Ten women diagnosed with DCIS as a result of mammographic screening.


RESULTS
None of the women with DCIS had heard of it before their diagnosis. Most would have liked more information about DCIS when invited for routine screening. Comprehensive information about the benefits and risks of mammographic screening, including the possibility of a DCIS diagnosis, would have enabled them to make a fully informed choice about attending for screening.


CONCLUSIONS
DCIS is an inescapable outcome of mammographic screening and, until it is better understood, the screening industry needs to inform women about its existence and the lack of understanding of its natural history and management. Being alerted before screening to the possibility of a DCIS diagnosis and the uncertainty associated with it would better enable women to make fully informed decisions about whether to attend and could help to alleviate some of the distress women currently feel when diagnosed with DCIS.
Prinjha
Suman
S
DIPEx, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, England. sbprinjha@hotmail.com
Evans
Julie
J
McPherson
Ann
A
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations