Overview
- A three-arm randomized controlled trial embedded in BreastScreen Queensland enrolled 2,401 women with dense breasts between September 2023 and July 2024 and assessed outcomes eight weeks after screening.
- Compared with no notification, notified participants reported higher anxiety (18% control vs 20.8% and 20.5%) and greater confusion about what to do (2.7% vs 11.5% and 9%).
- Intentions to consult a GP were higher after notification (12.9% control vs 22.8% with written information and 19.4% with video), while most women did not plan additional imaging.
- Despite receiving written or video materials, notified women did not feel more informed to make decisions; limited video engagement and low representation of non‑English speakers were noted limitations.
- The BMJ study arrives as notification is mandated in the US, rolling out in Australia, and under review in the UK, with authors calling for careful planning and more evidence on effective, equitable follow-up and long-term benefits.