Women Unwilling to Pay Extra for Quick Mammogram Results

Women appear unwilling to pay an additional fee to receive results of their mammograms more quickly, according to researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

In a report published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, researchers said they surveyed 120 women and found that 67 percent of them would like immediate results from their mammograms. However, 60 women out of 80 said they were not willing to pay an additional fee for immediate results.

An additional fee of $10 was acceptable to 19 of the women, and 9 women said they would pay an additional fee of $25. None of the women said they would be willing to pay a fee of $50 for speedy results.

"We were surprised that only 67 percent of the women indicated they preferred immediate reporting," said Dr. Sughra Raza, co-author of the study. "We expected this number to be much higher, because we are hearing from our patients and our referring physicians that they want to know the results right away."

Researchers figured the cost of providing immediate results of mammograms to be approximately $28.22 per patient, which included staff time, equipment and a room for consultation with the patient. If no additional space was needed, the cost for the radiologist's time would only be $4.38 per patient.

Researchers caution that immediate reporting would put pressure on the radiologist to read the mammograms quickly and accurately despite frequent interruptions.

"There are multiple other health screening tests where the patient has to wait for results, and people are used to that. Unfortunately there is a hysteria surrounding breast cancer. We have to reassure women that 90 percent to 95 percent of the time they won't need to have additional tests done, and that a later report -- whether negative or positive -- isn't going to make any difference clinically," said Raza.

Other Sources: American Journal of Roentgenology