"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you": breast imagers' perspectives regarding screening mammography for others and for themselves--do they practice what they preach?

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to determine the screening recommendations that breast radiologists promote to average-risk patients and family or friends and do or would follow for themselves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey of breast radiologists in the United States collected data regarding their personal and practice backgrounds, their recommendations to others for mammography and clinical and self-breast examination, and their personal screening habits based on respondent sex. The radiologists were divided into three cohorts: women 40 years old or older (group 1), women younger than 40 years (group 2), and men (group 3). The distribution of responses for each question was summarized, and proportions of total radiologists and cohorts were computed.

RESULTS

Four hundred eighty-seven surveys were collected. None of the radiologists recommended biennial mammography for patients ages 50-74 years, 98% (477/487) recommended yearly mammography for patients 40 years old and older, and 99% (470/476) recommended yearly mammography for family and friends 40 years old and older. The most common reasons for variance were institutional policy or provider preferences. In group 1, 96% (191/198) have yearly mammography. In group 2, 100% (83/83) have or will have yearly mammography at age 40 years and beyond. In group 3, 97% (171/176) would have yearly mammography at age 40 years and beyond if they were women. Overall, 97% (445/457) of radiologists have or would have yearly mammography at age 40 years and beyond.

CONCLUSION

Nearly all (98%) of the radiologists recommend yearly mammography for average-risk women 40 years old and older and were consistent in that they "practice what they preach." Because radiologists diagnose all stages of breast cancer, their personal convictions should influence providers, patients, and the public when considering the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force screening guidelines.