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Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
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1 to 25 of 38 Research Studies Displayed
Rauscher GH, Murphy AM, Qiu Q
The "sweet spot" revisited: optimal recall rates for cancer detection with 2D and 3D digital screening mammography in the Metro Chicago Breast Cancer Registry.
The authors examined the trade-offs for higher recall rates in terms of biopsy recommendations and cancer detection in mammography in a single large health care organization. 2D analog, 2D digital, and 3D digital mammography screenings among women 40-79 years old with cancer follow-up were examined. They found that the results of their investigation were in contrast to those of a recent study suggesting appropriateness of higher recall rates. They concluded that optimal cancer detection appeared to be in the recall rate range of 7-9% for both 2D digital mammography and 3D tomosynthesis.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Rauscher GH, Murphy AM, Qiu Q .
The "sweet spot" revisited: optimal recall rates for cancer detection with 2D and 3D digital screening mammography in the Metro Chicago Breast Cancer Registry.
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2021 Apr;216(4):894-902. doi: 10.2214/ajr.19.22429.
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Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Women, Prevention
Ellison J, Griffith K, Thursby M
The impact of driving time to family planning facilities on preventive service use in Ohio.
This study examined the impact of driving time to family planning facilities for preventive service use in Ohio due to newly enacted restrictions in public funding for organizations that provide or refer patients to abortion care, often resulting in clinic closures. Data from the 2010 to 2015 Ohio Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was assessed for female respondents aged 18-45 years with household incomes <$50,000. Clinic locations were combined with restricted-access survey ZIP codes to compute driving times to the nearest family planning clinic. Each additional 10 minutes of driving time was associated with an 8.9 percentage point increase in the likelihood of avoided care owing to cost, a 10.4 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of a mammogram during the past 12 months, and a 12.5 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of ever receiving a clinical breast examination. Results were similar for driving distance increases.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation:
Ellison J, Griffith K, Thursby M .
The impact of driving time to family planning facilities on preventive service use in Ohio.
Am J Prev Med 2021 Apr;60(4):542-45. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.11.009..
Keywords:
Access to Care, Women, Prevention, Screening, Mammogram
Miglioretti DL, Bissell MCS, Kerlikowske K
Assessment of a risk-based approach for triaging mammography examinations during periods of reduced capacity.
Breast cancer screening, surveillance, and diagnostic imaging services were profoundly limited during the initial phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The objective of this population-based cohort study was to develop a risk-based strategy for triaging mammograms during periods of decreased capacity. The investigators found that clinical indication and individual risk factors were associated with cancer detection and suggest these may be useful for prioritizing mammography in times and settings of decreased capacity.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Miglioretti DL, Bissell MCS, Kerlikowske K .
Assessment of a risk-based approach for triaging mammography examinations during periods of reduced capacity.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Mar;4(3):e211974. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.1974..
Keywords:
Mammogram, Screening, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Imaging, Access to Care, COVID-19
Lee CI, Zhu W, Onega T
Comparative access to and use of digital breast tomosynthesis screening by women's race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
This study looked at access to digital breast tomography (DBT) versus regular mammography and whether women of minority race/ethnicity and lower socioeconomic status experienced lower DBT access during the early adoption period and persistently lower DBT use over time. This cross-sectional study included 92 geographically diverse imaging facilities across 5 US states, with over 2.3 million screening examinations performed among women aged 40 to 89 years from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from June 2019, to August 2020. Women who used DBT increased for all women from 3.3% in 2011 to 82.6% in 2017. In 2012, Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and women with less than a high school education had lower DBT access compared to White women attending the same facility and also college graduates. Lower DBT access continued over time regardless of the number of years after facility-level DBT adoption.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Lee CI, Zhu W, Onega T .
Comparative access to and use of digital breast tomosynthesis screening by women's race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Feb;4(2):e2037546. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.37546..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Imaging, Access to Care, Women, Social Determinants of Health, Racial / Ethnic Minorities, Screening
Song H, Bergman A, Chen AT
Disruptions in preventive care: mammograms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The objective of this study was to measure the extent to which the provision of mammograms was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and surrounding guidelines. The data source for the study were de-identified summary data derived from medical claims and eligibility files were provided by Independence Blue Cross for women receiving mammograms. The investigators concluded that the provision of mammograms has been significantly disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHRQ-funded; HS026116.
Citation:
Song H, Bergman A, Chen AT .
Disruptions in preventive care: mammograms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Serv Res 2021 Feb;56(1):95-101. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13596..
Keywords:
Mammogram, Imaging, Screening, COVID-19, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Prevention
Rauscher GH, Tossas-Milligan K, Macarol T
Trends in attaining mammography quality benchmarks with repeated participation in a quality measurement program: going beyond the mammography quality standards act to address breast cancer disparities.
The Mammography Quality Standards Act requires that mammography facilities conduct audits, but there are no specifications on the metrics to be measured. In this study, the authors present trends from the first 5 years of data collection to examine whether continued participation in this quality improvement program was associated with an increase in the number of benchmarks met for breast cancer screening.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Rauscher GH, Tossas-Milligan K, Macarol T .
Trends in attaining mammography quality benchmarks with repeated participation in a quality measurement program: going beyond the mammography quality standards act to address breast cancer disparities.
J Am Coll Radiol 2020 Nov;17(11):1420-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.07.019..
Keywords:
Mammogram, Imaging, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Women
Lee CI, Houssami N, Elmore JG
Pathways to breast cancer screening artificial intelligence algorithm validation.
In this article, the authors outlined lessons learned from prior efforts in the field of artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced mammography screening tools, considered the need to validate algorithms on newer screening technologies and diverse patient populations, and concluded by discussing the need for a framework for continuous monitoring and recalibration of these AI tools.
AHRQ-funded; HS026369.
Citation:
Lee CI, Houssami N, Elmore JG .
Pathways to breast cancer screening artificial intelligence algorithm validation.
Breast 2020 Aug;52:146-49. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2019.09.005..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Screening, Women, Prevention
Sprague BL, Miglioretti DL, Lee CI
New mammography screening performance metrics based on the entire screening episode.
Established mammography screening performance metrics use the initial screening mammography assessment because they were developed for radiologist performance auditing, yet these metrics are frequently used to inform health policy and screening decision making. The authors developed new performance metrics based on the final assessment that consider the entire screening episode, including diagnostic workup. They concluded that established screening performance metrics underestimated the interval cancer rate of a mammography screening episode, particularly for women with dense breasts or an elevated breast cancer risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Sprague BL, Miglioretti DL, Lee CI .
New mammography screening performance metrics based on the entire screening episode.
Cancer 2020 Jul 15;126(14):3289-96. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32939..
Keywords:
Mammogram, Screening, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Prevention, Women, Provider Performance
Lowry KP, Coley RY, Miglioretti DL
Screening performance of digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography in community practice by patient age, screening round, and breast density.
The purpose of this study was to compare digital mammography (DM) vs digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) performance by age, baseline vs subsequent screening round, and breast density category. Information was taken from screening examinations at participating Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium facilities of 1.5 million women aged 40 to 79 with no prior history of breast cancer. Findings showed that improvements in recall and cancer detection rates with DBT were greatest on baseline mammograms. On subsequent screening mammograms, the benefits of DBT varied by age and breast density, and women with extremely dense breasts did not benefit from improved recall or cancer detection with DBT on subsequent screening rounds.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Lowry KP, Coley RY, Miglioretti DL .
Screening performance of digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography in community practice by patient age, screening round, and breast density.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Jul;3(7):e2011792. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.11792..
Keywords:
Mammogram, Imaging, Screening, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Eden KB, Ivlev I, Bensching KL
Use of an online breast cancer risk assessment and patient decision aid in primary care practices.
A cross-sectional study evaluating a web-based breast cancer risk assessment and decision aid (MammoScreen) was conducted in an academic general internal medicine clinic. Breast cancer risk assessment and mammography screening decision support were efficiently implemented through a web-based tool for patients sent through an electronic patient portal. Findings indicated that integration of patient decision aids with risk algorithms in clinical practice may help support the implementation of USPSTF recommendations that include risk assessment and shared decision-making.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation:
Eden KB, Ivlev I, Bensching KL .
Use of an online breast cancer risk assessment and patient decision aid in primary care practices.
J Womens Health 2020 Jun;29(6):763-69. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2019.8143..
Keywords:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Screening, Decision Making, Risk, Health Information Technology (HIT), Prevention, Women
Lacson R, Wang A, Cochon L
Factors associated with optimal follow-up in women with BI-RADS 3 breast findings.
Investigators assessed the rate of and the factors associated with optimal follow-up in patients with BI-RADS 3 breast findings. They found that follow-up of BI-RADS 3 breast imaging findings is optimal in only 74% of women. They recommended further interventions to promote follow-up targeting younger, unmarried women, those with Hispanic ethnicity, and women without history of breast cancer and without insurance coverage.
Citation:
Lacson R, Wang A, Cochon L .
Factors associated with optimal follow-up in women with BI-RADS 3 breast findings.
J Am Coll Radiol 2020 Apr;17(4):469-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2019.10.003..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Imaging, Screening, Women, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Garcia-Albeniz X, Hernan MA, Logan RW
Continuation of annual screening mammography and breast cancer mortality in women older than 70 years.
This study examined whether discontinuing annual screening mammographies in women older than 70 years results in an increased 8-year breast cancer mortality. The researchers used data from the Medicare program and looked at over 1 million beneficiaries aged 70 to 84 who had no previous breast cancer diagnosis, and who underwent screening mammography from 2000 to 20008. The 8-year risk difference for women aged 70 to 74 years was -1.0 death per 1000 women and for women aged 75 to 84 years it was 0.07. Neither of these show substantial reductions in 8-year breast cancer mortality compared with stopping screening.
AHRQ-funded; HS023128.
Citation:
Garcia-Albeniz X, Hernan MA, Logan RW .
Continuation of annual screening mammography and breast cancer mortality in women older than 70 years.
Ann Intern Med 2020 Mar 17;172(6):381-89. doi: 10.7326/m18-1199..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Mammogram, Prevention, Women, Elderly, Mortality
Sprague BL, Coley RY, Kerlikowske K
Assessment of radiologist performance in breast cancer screening using digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography.
Many US radiologists have screening mammography recall rates above the expert-recommended threshold of 12%. The influence of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) on the distribution of radiologist recall rates is uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate radiologists' recall and cancer detection rates before and after beginning interpretation of DBT examinations.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Sprague BL, Coley RY, Kerlikowske K .
Assessment of radiologist performance in breast cancer screening using digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Mar 2;3(3):e201759. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.1759..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Imaging, Screening, Women, Prevention, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Mills J, Fakolade A
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer.
In this case study, a 31-year-old woman presents for a well-woman examination. She indicates that her mother was diagnosed with tubal cancer at age 40, that her 42-year-old sister was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and that her maternal aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Mills J, Fakolade A .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer.
Am Fam Physician 2020 Feb 15;101(4):239-40..
Keywords:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Genetics, Screening, Mammogram, Prevention, Case Study
Miglioretti DL, Abraham L, Lee CI
Digital breast tomosynthesis: radiologist learning curve.
This study examined if detect rates and lower recall rates occurred with the adoption of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) than for traditional breast mammography. Performance was compared before and after DBT adoption using data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium cohort. There was a small improvement in recall rates, with more improvement in women with nondense breasts. Cancer detection rates were similar.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Miglioretti DL, Abraham L, Lee CI .
Digital breast tomosynthesis: radiologist learning curve.
Radiology 2019 Apr;291(1):34-42. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2019182305..
Keywords:
Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Mammogram, Screening
Sprague BL, Kerlikowske K, Bowles EJA
Trends in clinical breast density assessment from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
Changes to mammography practice, including revised Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) density classification guidelines and implementation of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), may impact clinical breast density assessment. In this study, the authors investigated temporal trends in clinical breast density assessment among 2 990 291 digital mammography (DM) screens and 221 063 DBT screens interpreted by 722 radiologists from 144 facilities in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Sprague BL, Kerlikowske K, Bowles EJA .
Trends in clinical breast density assessment from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2019 Jun;111(6):629-32. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djy210..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Imaging, Women
Hoover DS, Pappadis MR, Housten AJ
Preferences for communicating about breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse older women.
The purpose of this study was to examine preferences for communicating about screening mammography among racially/ethnically diverse older women. Through in-depth interviews, findings revealed that older women desire information about the benefits and harms of screening mammography and would prefer to learn this information through discussions with healthcare providers and multiple other formats. Results were consistent regardless of participants' age, race/ethnicity, or education.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation:
Hoover DS, Pappadis MR, Housten AJ .
Preferences for communicating about breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse older women.
Health Commun 2019 Jun;34(7):702-06. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1431026..
Keywords:
Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Elderly, Mammogram, Prevention, Racial / Ethnic Minorities, Screening, Women
Arana E, Carroll-Scott A, Massey PM
Racial/ethnic disparities in mammogram frequency among women with intellectual disability.
The purpose of this study was to collect survey and medical record data to examine associations between intellectual disability (ID) and race/ethnicity on mammogram frequency. Hispanic and Black women with ID are more likely than White women with ID to have mammograms every 2 years. Women who live in State-funded residences, are aged 50 and over, and had a mild or moderate level of ID impairment were more likely to have mammograms compared to those who lived with family or alone, were under 50, or who had severe ID impairment. The authors conclude that further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that explain these disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS023966.
Citation:
Arana E, Carroll-Scott A, Massey PM .
Racial/ethnic disparities in mammogram frequency among women with intellectual disability.
Intellect Dev Disabil 2019 Jun;57(3):177-87. doi: 10.1352/1934-9556-57.3.177..
Keywords:
Disabilities, Disparities, Imaging, Mammogram, Prevention, Racial / Ethnic Minorities, Screening, Women
Giess CS, Wang A, Ip IK
Patient, radiologist, and examination characteristics affecting screening mammography recall rates in a large academic practice.
This retrospective study examined patient, radiologist and examination characteristics affecting screening mammography recall rates. This study used 61,198 examinations from an academic center and two outpatient centers from October 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015. Radiologists’ risk aversion, stress from uncertainty, and malpractice concerns and cancer detection rates were derived from the survey. Their annual screening volumes, clinical experience, and concentration in breast imaging was calculated. About 9.3% of screening examinations were recalled. There was no association found with radiologists’ risk aversion, stress from uncertainty, malpractice concerns and cancer detection rates and high recall rates. The most variation was found with radiologists’ annual reading volume and experience.
AHRQ-funded; HS24722.
Citation:
Giess CS, Wang A, Ip IK .
Patient, radiologist, and examination characteristics affecting screening mammography recall rates in a large academic practice.
J Am Coll Radiol 2019 Apr;16(4 Pt A):411-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.06.016..
Keywords:
Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Mammogram, Prevention, Screening, Women
Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of recently updated US-based mammography screening guidelines. Researchers developed a microsimulation model to generate the natural history of invasive breast cancer and capture how screening and treatment modified the natural course of the disease, and used the model to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening strategies. Results indicated that the hybrid screening strategy that starts annual mammography at the age of 45 years and switches to biennial screening between the ages of 55 and 75 years was the most cost-effective.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation:
Tina Shih YC, Dong W, Xu Y .
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of updated breast cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women.
Value Health 2019 Feb;22(2):185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2018.07.880..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Screening, Prevention, Healthcare Costs
Lee CI, Zhu W, Onega TL
The effect of digital breast tomosynthesis adoption on facility-level breast cancer screening volume.
This study examined whether adoption of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) was associated with a decrease in screening mammography capacity across Breast Cancer Screening Consortium facilities. Facility characteristics and examination volume data were collected from facilities that adopted DBT from 2011 and 2014. The majority of facilities had no academic affiliation (73%), were nonprofit (80%) and were general radiology practices (66.7%). Monthly screening volumes were slightly higher after the adoption period but otherwise remained relatively stable before and after adoption of DBT.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Lee CI, Zhu W, Onega TL .
The effect of digital breast tomosynthesis adoption on facility-level breast cancer screening volume.
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2018 Nov;211(5):957-63. doi: 10.2214/ajr.17.19350..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mammogram, Imaging, Screening, Prevention, Women
Lee SC, Higashi RT, Sanders JM
Effects of program scale-up on time to resolution for patients with abnormal screening mammography results.
Effects of geographic program expansion to rural areas on mammogram screening program outcomes are understudied. The authors of this study sought to determine whether time-to-resolution (TTR) varied significantly by service delivery time period, location, and participant characteristics across 19 North Texas counties.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation:
Lee SC, Higashi RT, Sanders JM .
Effects of program scale-up on time to resolution for patients with abnormal screening mammography results.
Cancer Causes Control 2018 Oct;29(10):995-1005. doi: 10.1007/s10552-018-1074-4..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Mammogram, Screening, Women
Pappadis MR, Volk RJ, Krishnan S
Perceptions of overdetection of breast cancer among women 70 years of age and older in the USA: a mixed-methods analysis.
The authors explored older women's perceptions about the concept of overdetection of breast cancer and its influence on future screening intentions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 59 English-speaking women aged 70 years or older with no prior history of breast cancer. The authors found that many older women did not understand the concept of overdetection, in addition to being suspicious of or resistant to the concept. Providing older women with descriptions of overdetection may not be sufficient to influence screening intentions.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation:
Pappadis MR, Volk RJ, Krishnan S .
Perceptions of overdetection of breast cancer among women 70 years of age and older in the USA: a mixed-methods analysis.
BMJ Open 2018 Jun 14;8(6):e022138. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022138..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Elderly, Decision Making, Mammogram, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Imaging, Screening, Prevention
Dabbous F, Dolecek TA, Friedewald SM
Performance characteristics of digital vs film screen mammography in community practice.
In this study, the investigators examined performance characteristics of digital vs film screen mammography in community practice by comparing the performance characteristics of 297 629 full field digital (FFDM) and 416 791 screen film mammograms (SFM). In their study, modest gains in performance were achieved with the introduction of FFDM as a replacement for SFM, in a large health care organization.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation:
Dabbous F, Dolecek TA, Friedewald SM .
Performance characteristics of digital vs film screen mammography in community practice.
Breast J 2018 May;24(3):369-72. doi: 10.1111/tbj.12942..
Keywords:
Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Community-Based Practice, Imaging, Mammogram, Prevention, Screening
Murphy DR, Meyer AND, Vaghani V
Electronic triggers to identify delays in follow-up of mammography: harnessing the power of big data in health care.
Because of the unique clinical, logistic, and legal aspects of mammography, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a trigger to flag delayed follow-up on mammography. The investigators found that care delays appeared to continue despite federal laws requiring patient notification of mammographic results within 30 days. They suggest that clinical application of mammography-related triggers could help detect these delays.
AHRQ-funded; HS022901.
Citation:
Murphy DR, Meyer AND, Vaghani V .
Electronic triggers to identify delays in follow-up of mammography: harnessing the power of big data in health care.
J Am Coll Radiol 2018 Feb;15(2):287-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2017.10.001..
Keywords:
Cancer: Breast Cancer, Data, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Mammogram, Health Information Technology (HIT)
