Study Highlights Knowledge Gaps Among Healthcare Providers in Breast Cancer Risk Assessment

DenseBreast-info.org (DBI) announced results of its study published in the Journal of Breast Imaging showed important knowledge gaps regarding the use of breast cancer risk models and high-risk screening recommendations, which can be effectively reduced with web-based education.

The study results showed that women’s health providers had confusion regarding which breast cancer risk models to use and national guidelines for high-risk breast cancer screening. For instance, less than half (48%) knew that the Tyrer-Cuzick model is used to identify women meeting high-risk MRI screening criteria and only 49% of providers knew the Gail model should not be used to identify women for high-risk MRI screening. The study also reported that only 19% knew that for a high-risk 30-year-old both mammography/tomosynthesis and MRI are recommended.

This is the third research project in a series conducted by DBI to identify knowledge gaps among women’s health providers.  Results of the first study, conducted in radiologists and radiologic technologists, were published in the Journal of Breast Imaging and detailed additional knowledge gaps.

The second study, “Effect of an educational intervention on women’s healthcare provider knowledge gaps about breast density, breast cancer risk, and screening,” published previously in Menopause, showed that just 29% knew breast cancer risk increases with increasing amount of glandular (dense) tissue. Also, slightly more than half (57%) knew women with extremely dense breasts have a four-to-six-fold increased risk compared to women with the least dense breasts.

“Women often turn to their health care provider with questions about breast density, screening and risk. This series of studies shows significant knowledge gaps exist among these providers,” said Robin Seitzman, PhD, MPH, Director of Education and Epidemiology Research, DenseBreast-info.org.  “While there has been recent news coverage of knowledge gaps among women about breast density, risk and the effectiveness of mammography, it may be even more important to address critical gaps in knowledge among their health care providers.”

“It is encouraging that the research also shows that web-based education based on DenseBreast-info.org content and reviewed in our CME course, Dense Breasts and Supplemental Screening, helps reduce these knowledge gaps,” said Wendie Berg, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Hospital, Department of Radiology and Chief Scientific Advisor, DenseBreast-info.org. “Our goal is to provide an educational resource for women’s health providers to increase provider comfort level in discussing the screening and risk implications of dense tissue and risk-based screening recommendations.”