Breast cancer screening guidelines: Is it time to revisit? A survey.
e11089 Background: Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among women in US. In a 2012 report by CDCbreast cancer screening rates are falling short of government targets. At least 10 different societies have laid out screening guidelines, making it difficult to follow. We conducted a survey to better understand adherence to guidelines among health care providers. Methods: A questionnaire comprising of 15 questions was distributed to 120 providers within the Department of Medicine at a University Hospital. Results: 68% returned completed questionnaires: Residents (53%), Attendings/Fellows (36%) and Nurse Practioners/Medical students (11%). Despite 60% respondents claiming that screening guidelines were easy to comprehend and follow; the table suggests otherwise. 49% of the respondents follow United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines (USPSTF) 28% of these commenced screening at age 40; against the recommendations to start at age 50 and to initiate discussions between the ages of 40-50. 16% of the respondents followed National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/American Cancer Society guidelines. 46% of these commenced screening at age 50 or between ages 40-50 contrary to recommendations to begin screening at age 40. Similarly 42% of respondents chose to discontinue screening at the age of 75 in concordance to USPSTF guidelines. 5% chose to screen indefinitely and 1% said they would individualize. 52% did not conform to any guidelines. 69% advocated self breast examinations despite most societies not encouraging the same. Conclusions: While majority of providers follow USPSTF guidelines, there is a considerable discordance between guidelines respondents claim to follow and their practices. This could be attributed to the lack of uniformity in the guidelines across various societies making it harder to comprehend and recall. A unifying consensus would make it easier for providers to improve effective screening. [Table: see text]