Impact of Breast Cancer Screening on Quality of Life in High-Risk Women
Author Information
Author(s): Rijnsburger A J, Essink-Bot M L, van Dooren S, Borsboom G J J M, Seynaeve C, Bartels C C M, Klijn J G M, Tibben A, de Koning H J
Primary Institution: Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam
Hypothesis
Does the screening process have any impact, negative or positive, on generic health-related quality of life and distress among high-risk women?
Conclusion
The screening process does not have an unfavourable impact on short-term generic health-related quality of life and general distress in women at high risk for breast cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- High-risk women showed significantly higher SF-36 scores on most scales compared to the general population.
- Most women in the study experienced no important negative psychological consequences after screening.
- Women who opted for regular screening had a better health status than women from the general population.
Takeaway
This study looked at how breast cancer screening affects women who are at high risk. It found that screening doesn't make them feel worse overall.
Methodology
The MRISC study is an ongoing prospective observational study for women at increased risk for breast cancer, involving biannual clinical breast examinations and annual mammography and MRI.
Potential Biases
The study population may have a selection bias as participants were likely healthier and better coping than the general population.
Limitations
The study did not investigate the impact of additional diagnostic work-up on health-related quality of life during recall.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 40.9 years, with 72% having a low to intermediate level of education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p≤0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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