Women's attitudes about receiving mammographic results directly from radiologists.

PURPOSE

To learn what women think about the communication of mammographic results directly to them by radiologists.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred seven women completed a survey at the time of mammographic examination. The women were asked to indicate the strength of their agreement with seven statements about the communication of mammographic results directly to them by the radiologist.

RESULTS

The majority agreed that the radiologist should give them normal (286 women [93%]) or abnormal (277 women [90%]) results directly on site. They also agreed that the radiologist should send a report written in lay language of normal (268 women [87%]) or abnormal (280 women [91%]) results directly to them and that the radiologist should inform them of recommendations for short-term follow-up examinations (93%) and monitor their compliance (88%).

CONCLUSION

Because these results reflect findings for only these patients, the authors suggest that additional investigation be performed to determine what women in diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and geographic locations think about these issues.