Mammography screening test: how users receive information and how they want to be informed

Abstract

There is currently intense international debate about the benefits of offering breast cancer screening tests (BCST) to all women aged 50 and older, as it is not clear that they outweigh the risks. Also, public perception is unrealistic. Participants overestimate the benefits and are oblivious to the negative physical or psychological impact of overdiagnosis and false positives. In addition, there is no clear strategy to make easier for them to make informed decisions about their participation in the test. In this context, a deliberative democracy (DD) process was carried out in Cadiz (Spain) with the dual objective of knowing the opinion of the participants on the PCCM; and knowing which strategies they consider would improve the information reception process and facilitate informed decision making. Participated thirteen women between the ages of 50 and 65. The DD process took place over three afternoons: (1) information on mammographic screening was provided; (2) arguments were given for and against the PCCM; and (3) participants deliberated on the information provided, and proposed changes to the information they receive. Participants expressed their opinion about the BCST in terms of its objectives, the sources of information, and the people to whom it is addressed, the clarity of the information, and when and how they receive it. They also indicated how they would like to receive information about the BCST –mode of arrival—, the moment, the contents about which they would like to be informed, the target persons and the action protocol. It is concluded that it is necessary to know the point of view of the participants about the information that they receive of the BCST in order to improve their quality and adapt it to their needs.

Keywords

• cribado mamográfico
• democracia deliberativa
• calidad de la información
• toma de decisiones informada