Communicating Objective Risk for Personalized Decision Making About Mammography

This study will compare alternative strategies for the presentation of individualized information about the risks and benefits of mammography screening. The purpose of this study is to understand how objective risk information influences outcomes including behavioral intentions, attitudes about mammography, and emotional responses.

After participants view objective risk information, a post-test survey will measure outcome variables including behavioral intentions, knowledge, and emotional responses.

After reading information based on their condition, study participants will be asked to complete a series of questions to measure their reactions based on their condition. Specifically, the investigators will be measuring the following dependent variables (primary outcomes): behavioral intentions to receive mammograms, attitudes about mammography, subjective norms about mammography and breast cancer screening, knowledge about mammography outcomes and screening recommendations, and emotional responses to the material including psychological reactance. These outcomes will be measured using self-reported questionnaire items.

In this project, the investigators will compare alternative communication strategies to determine which strategy or strategies result in the greatest level of understanding. The investigators also will examine if the various strategies differentially affect the primary outcomes listed above.