title: Patient Compliance in the Setting of BI-RADS Category 3: What Factors Impact Compliance With Short-Term Follow-Up Recommendations?
abstract: The study aims to define how imaging findings, patient demographics, patient-provider interactions, and health care practices may affect a woman's decision to follow-up in the setting of a BI-RADS Category 3. A total of 398 women from the University of Arizona Breast Imaging Center with a BI-RADS Category 3 assessment for mammography and/or ultrasound findings were evaluated between February 2012 and June 2014. Demographic information was analyzed for all patients, regardless of follow-up. Women who returned for follow-up within the recommended time period were given one survey at the time of their follow-up appointment, and women who returned for follow-up, but later than recommended, were given a separate survey to complete. Age, palpability of a lesion, and menopause status were related to follow-up. Self-rated general health was the only factor found to be associated with the decision to follow-up on time. The majority of patients who followed up on time reported that mailed reminder cards were the primary practice that prompted follow-up. Of patients who followed up later than recommended, the major reason was "no time." The findings suggest that additional counseling regarding the benefits of short-interval imaging follow-up might be advantageous for patients.
authors.affiliation: Banner University Medical Center Breast Imaging Center, University Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Marisa H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9876-5447
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Borders
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Banner University Medical Center Breast Imaging Center, University Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Krupinski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BI-RADS Category 3; breast ultrasound; mammography; patient compliance