A survey of the practice patterns of gynecologic oncologists dealing with hereditary cancer patients in Japan.

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Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) is a significant type of familial ovarian cancer. A survey of gynecologic oncologists was conducted in order to characterize the state of care and awareness of information provision for HBOC in Japan and to identify information necessary to enhance HBOC care. All gynecologic oncologists certified by the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO) as specialists in the treatment of ovarian cancer were included. They were sent a 44-question questionnaire dealing with the background of the respondent, the facilities at the respondent's medical institution, how the family history interview is conducted, awareness of and practice behavior toward HBOC, performance of genetic testing, and performance of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). The response rate was 50.1%. About 60% of respondents stated that "I administer care with HBOC in mind" and "I want to be involved in the care of HBOC." However, only 2 in 3 doctors was able to explain HBOC to patients, fewer than 1 in 5 doctors was able to give counseling to patients, 1 in 10 doctors provided printed information to patients suspected of having a hereditary cancer, and 1 in 7 doctors recommended that patients suspected of having a hereditary cancer visit the department of genetics. The provision of information to patients, recommending that patients visit the department of genetics, and the performance of genetic testing were dependent on whether a department of genetics was present in the respondent's institution. The survey also found that RRSO is not widely performed in Japan.