Women in their 40s responding to the 2024 United States Preventive Services Task Force mammography guideline update: a focus group study.

OBJECTIVE

Focus groups involving US women aged 40-49 were conducted to identify women's attitudes towards the 2024 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) mammography guideline, particularly the change in emphasis away from informed choice. Focus groups explored what information women feel they need to receive about screening benefits and harms prior to getting a mammogram.

DESIGN

Seven focus groups of 4-6 women were conducted 3-4 months following the USPSTF guideline announcement.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from two healthcare systems in the USA and participated in focus groups via Zoom.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 40-49 with no history of breast cancer. Purposive sampling stratified by race, education and screening preferences.

INTERVENTIONS: Participants had previously received a Decision Aid as part of a parent study informing them of the pre-2024 USPSTF guideline and mammography mortality benefit, false positives and overdiagnosis.

MAIN MEASURES: Rapid qualitative analysis focused on summarising groups' answers to questions posed to the focus groups.

RESULTS

Groups were generally positive towards lowering the screening age to 40 but felt that screening frequency should be tailored to personal cancer risk. They strongly emphasised the importance of being informed about both the benefits and harms of mammography, despite the reduced emphasis on informed choice, and stressed a desire for transparency and autonomy.

CONCLUSIONS

US women were positive about the recommendation to screen at age 40 but wanted screening frequency to be tailored to their cancer risk. They valued being fully informed of both screening benefits and harms and expected that all women should be fully informed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05838417.