Breast cancer is well recognized as a leading type of cancer affecting women within the United States. While breast cancer screening is well supported in the literature, there lacks clear agreement regarding which breast cancer risk calculating tools should be used to develop personalized screening regimens. In this review of 11 primary articles published from 2017 through 2022, we assess current evidence on breast cancer risk assessment within outpatient clinic and mammography settings and the pivotal role of health care providers in influencing patients’ choices regarding individualized screenings. Risk assessment is strongly recommended by multiple clinical practice guidelines, yet there is inadequate evidence to endorse one risk assessment tool as best practice. Further research is needed to integrate risk assessment within clinic workflow and screening encounters. Patient-centered communication and shared decision-making are critical components for managing each woman’s perceived risk and objective risk for breast cancer.
Learning Objectives:
Compare the strengths and limitations of various breast risk assessment models appropriate for individualized women’s care.
Evaluate the impact of increased utilization of breast cancer risk assessment tools within primary care and mammography settings.
Citation:
Johnson, A. B., & Clark, D. (2023). A Review of the Literature for Individualizing Women’s Care Through Breast Cancer Risk Assessment. Nursing for Women’s Health, 27(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2022.12.006
Faculty & Faculty Disclosures:
Ashley B. Johnson, MSN, APRN, NP-C
Deborah Clark, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, CNE
Publication:
Nursing for Women’s Health (NWH)
Nursing Contact Hours:
1.3 nursing contact hours (CNE available until June 2, 2026)
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Keywords: breast cancer; breast neoplasms; mammography; patient-centered care; risk assessment; shared decision-making; workflow
Target Audience: women’s health, obstetric, and neonatal nurses