The Focus of This Study is to Identify How Different Approaches to Mammography Communication Affect Skepticism Toward Mammography Evidence
Conditions
Keywords
Communication, Mammography
Brief summary
This is a randomized online experiment testing different methods for communicating about the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening. Participants will be randomly assigned to experimental conditions which vary whether screening outcomes are referred to as "benefits and harms" vs. "outcomes that can happen with screening", and vary the presence or absence of information about improvements in breast cancer survivability. In a control condition, participants receive basic information about what mammography is (which is also information received in all other conditions). Primary outcomes include skepticism toward the information presented, and screening intentions.
Detailed description
This is a randomized online experiment testing different methods for communicating about the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 5 experimental conditions, in a 2 x 2 + 1 factorial design, which vary (1) whether screening outcomes are referred to as "benefits and harms" vs. "outcomes that can happen with screening", and (2) the presence or absence of information about improvements in breast cancer treatment and survivability. In a 5th arm, a control condition, participants receive basic information about what mammography is (which is also information received in all other conditions). Primary outcomes include skepticism toward the information presented, and screening intentions.
Interventions
OTHERHarm/benefit language vs. outcomes that can happen
Information about mortality benefit, false positives and overdiagnosis are referred to throughout the communication as either "harms" and "benefits" or "outcomes that can happen".
OTHERBreast cancer survivability information
Information about improvements over time in the survivability of breast cancer is provided vs. not
OTHERNo intervention
This is the control condition in which only basic information about mammography screening.
Sponsors
University of Colorado, Denver
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Intervention model description
This is a 2 x 2 +1 randomized factorial design. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 5 experimental conditions, which vary (1) whether screening outcomes are referred to as "benefits and harms" vs. "outcomes that can happen with screening", and (2) the presence or absence of information about improvements in breast cancer treatment and survivability. In a 5th arm, a control condition, participants receive basic information about what mammography is (which is also information received in all other conditions).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
39 Years to 49 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female, age 39-49
Exclusion criteria
* No history of breast cancer, no known BRCA1/2 gene mutation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Skepticism toward the screening message | Participant experience entails a one-time survey. This outcome is measured in that survey, immediately after participants read information about mammography screening. | Skepticism toward the screening message is assessed using the RED scale, consisting of 11 questions each measured on a 7-point Likert scale |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed