Patient-Centered Video Aids Breast Cancer Screening Choices
Publication Title: Development of a Video‐Based Decision Aid for Breast Cancer Screening Among Older Women
Summary
- Question
- This study aimed to develop a video-based decision aid for older women considering breast cancer screening beyond age 74. The researchers sought to create an engaging and informative tool using a patient-centered design approach to address uncertainties surrounding mammography in this age group.
- Why it Matters
- Breast cancer screening decisions for women over age 74 remain controversial due to unclear benefits and risks, including the possibility of overdiagnosis—detecting cancers that may never cause harm. This study is significant because it aims to empower older women with accessible and understandable information to make informed decisions about mammography. Improving decision-making in this population could reduce decisional conflict, improve health outcomes, and enhance patient satisfaction with care. This work is relevant to clinicians, researchers, and older women themselves.
- Methods
- The researchers followed the Framework for Innovation to design and test the decision aid. They conducted six formative focus groups with women aged 70 and older from community and clinical settings in Connecticut to understand their perspectives on mammography. Based on these findings, they created a prototype video, which was then evaluated in seven cognitive testing focus groups. Feedback from these groups guided iterative improvements to the video. Participants included 31 women, with a mean age of 78 (range 70-93), and diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
- Key Findings
- The researchers found that older women generally perceived breast cancer screening as beneficial but were unfamiliar with the concept of overdiagnosis. Some participants valued quantitative information about screening risks and benefits, while others preferred to rely on personal experiences, perceived risk, and beliefs about mammography’s effectiveness. The decision aid incorporated these diverse perspectives into its design, using clear language and relatable narratives. Participants in cognitive testing groups described the video as easy to understand and informative.
- Implications
- The development of this decision aid represents an important step toward improving health communication for older women facing complex screening decisions. By addressing gaps in knowledge and tailoring information to the audience's preferences, the tool may enhance decision quality and reduce uncertainty about mammography. Clinicians could use this resource to support shared decision-making and ensure that older women feel confident and informed in their healthcare choices.
- Next Steps
- The researchers plan to evaluate the decision aid’s impact on decision quality, decisional conflict, and screening intentions in future studies. This next phase will help determine whether the tool effectively supports informed decision-making and promotes patient-centered care.
- Funding Information
- This research was supported by grants from various sources, as detailed in the original research paper. Yale University also provided funding and support for this research.
Full Citation
Lindsay M, Odole I, Mohamed S, King C, Schoenborn N, Schonberg M, Richman I. Development of a Video‐Based Decision Aid for Breast Cancer Screening Among Older Women. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2026 PMID: 42302231, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.70526.
This AI-assisted summary has been reviewed and approved by at least one of the study's authors to ensure it accurately reflects the research.
Authors
Meghan Lindsay, MPH
First AuthorBiostatistician
Ilana Richman, MD, MHS
Last AuthorAssistant Professor
Other Authors
Research Themes
Concepts
- Breast cancer screening;
- Video-based decision aid;
- Formative focus groups;
- Cancer screening;
- Focus groups;
- Decision aid;
- Older women;
- Screening decisions;
- Personal history of breast cancer;
- History of breast cancer;
- Perspective of older women;
- Efficacy of mammography;
- Patient-centered design;
- Benefits of screening;
- Patient-centered approach;
- Personal history;
- Focus group feedback;
- Focus group findings;
- Decisional conflict;
- Health information;
- Group feedback;
- Women's perspectives;
- Women age;
- Prototype video;
- Group findings
Media
- Photo by Adobe Stock