This purpose of this study is to evaluate the willingness of women to change their breast cancer screening practices if given personalized recommendations based on risk factors such as breast density, family history and lifestyle. Methods: A random sample of 1,024 Virginia women between age 35–70 years and without breast cancer, reached by landline and cell phone, completed a 24-minute interview. Results: Just over half (54.6%) of women are definitely or probably willing to reduce their frequency of breast cancer screening if provided with personalized recommendations. This compares to 81.9% who are definitely or probably willing to increase screening. The most cited disadvantage for reduced screening was delayed detection of breast cancer (77%) while the most cited advantage for increased screening is earlier detection (82%). Women are willing to change their type of screening (92.3%). Women who were more likely to be willing to reduce screening are those with a lower perceived risk of breast cancer, less familiarity with risk factors and recommendations. When asked what they needed to know to make a change, women cited advice of a doctor (52.1%), research/evidence (38.9%) and comparison with old recommendations (22.5%) most frequently. Advice of a radiologist was only stated by 2.3% of the women. Conclusions: These results suggest that most women will be willing to change their breast cancer screening frequency especially if recommended by their primary care physician. Women do not view their radiologist as having a primary role in delivering screening recommendations; this underscores the need to educate primary healthcare providers regarding breast screening recommendations.

The following are the 20 highest scoring abstracts of those submitted for presentation at the 39th Annual ASPO meeting held March 15–17, 2015, in Birmingham, AL.