Genetic Counseling and Prophylactic Mastectomy Decisions
Author Information
Author(s): van Dijk S, Otten W, Zoeteweij M W, Timmermans D R M, van Asperen C J, Breuning M H, Tollenaar R A E M, Kievit J
Primary Institution: Leiden University Medical Center
Hypothesis
Does genetic counseling influence the intention to undergo prophylactic mastectomy among women at risk for hereditary breast cancer?
Conclusion
The study found that while objective risk information provided in genetic counseling has a corrective effect on perceived risk, it has a limited impact on the intention to opt for prophylactic mastectomy.
Supporting Evidence
- Women with a higher perceived risk of breast cancer were more likely to intend to undergo prophylactic mastectomy.
- Counseling reduced the perceived risk for women with lower objective risk.
- Women who had a personal history of breast cancer reported higher levels of worry after counseling.
Takeaway
Women who worry a lot about breast cancer are more likely to think about having surgery to prevent it, but just knowing their actual risk doesn't always change their minds.
Methodology
The study used a prospective design with questionnaires sent before and after genetic counseling to assess changes in perceived risk and intention for prophylactic mastectomy.
Potential Biases
The reliance on self-reported measures may introduce bias in the assessment of perceived risk and intention.
Limitations
A significant number of women did not complete both questionnaires, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
{"age_distribution":{"under_30":39,"30_to_39":64,"40_to_49":79,"50_plus":59},"marital_status":{"married_or_cohabitating":194,"not_married_or_cohabitating":47},"children":{"yes":162,"no":79},"educational_level":{"high_school_or_university":95,"less_than_high_school":146},"breast_cancer_history":{"yes":73,"no":168}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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