Behavior of Japanese women after being informed about the benefits and disadvantages of breast cancer screening: a questionnaire survey.

Abstract

The US Preventative Services Task Force assessed the efficacy of breast cancer screening according to the sum of its benefits and disadvantages. We estimate that the balance of the benefits and disadvantages varies among women depending on their demographic background. Between March 2016 and March 2017, we conducted a questionnaire survey among Japanese women who underwent population-based or opportunistic breast cancer screening at our multicenter institutions. We investigated the behavior modification among women after being informed about the benefits and disadvantages of breast cancer screening depending on their demographic background. Out of 3032 questionnaires that were returned, 2936 (96.8%) were evaluated. The percentage of women with prior knowledge about the benefits and disadvantages of breast cancer screening before reading the leaflets that we created was 24%. However, 95% of the women were willing to undergo screening next time, despite knowing the disadvantages. Regarding overdiagnosis, the young women tended to choose usual treatment, and the elderly women tended to choose active surveillance. In response to the question on the significance of screening, the young women wished to avoid death by breast cancer; whereas, the elderly women wished to live a safe life. Our results indicate that the information of disadvantages does not lead to a reduction in screening rates. Additionally, we found that the balance between the benefits and disadvantages of breast cancer screening varies among women depending on their demographic background, especially age.