Evaluating Mammography Communication Approaches

Evaluating Mammography Communication Approaches

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.

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female, age 39-49

Exclusion Criteria:

• No history of breast cancer, no known BRCA1/2 gene mutation