Is opportunistic mammography screening justified
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is opportunistic mammography screening justified in patients presenting with breast pain to one-stop clinics. A stakeholders perspective.
IRAS ID
236025
Contact name
Philip Cosson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Teesside University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 20 days
Research summary
Is opportunistic mammography screening justified in patients presenting with breast pain to one-stop breast clinics - stakeholders perspective.
There is an increasing awareness of breast disease in the UK; government strategies, media attention, medical advance and national organisations have all contributed to this. Symptomatic breast clinics, commonly known as one-stop breast clinics in the UK, are currently funded by the NHS but can provide a variety of services.
In order to answer the research question a small number of stakeholders will be asked their perceptions of one possible diagnostic service, opportunistic screening mammography. The stakeholders will comprise, Patients, Consultant Breast Radiologists, Consultant Breast Surgeons, and Radiographers.
This study will focus on a one-stop breast clinic that currently provides opportunistic screening mammography for breast pain, a novel pathway of diagnostic testing.
There is a surprising gap in knowledge comparing the effect of performing or avoiding initial imaging tests, such as opportunistic screening mammography, on outcomes of interest in patients presenting with breast pain.
This is particularly the case in the UK where it has been estabilished that an increasing number of patients are presenting with low risk symptoms, such as breast pain. Patients presenting with breast pain make up 20% of one-stop breast clinic referrals.
The appropriate mix of services at a one-stop clinic for these patients has therefore important implications and is an area that would benefit from further investigation.
Participating stakeholders will be interviewed by the researcher one-to-one at the one-stop breast clinic. The interview will be an opportunity of the participant to share their perceptions of the opportunistic screening mammography service.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0639
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion