Abstract
BackgroundBreast cancer risk education enables women make informed decisions regarding their options for screening and risk reduction. We aimed to determine whether patient education regarding breast cancer risk using a bar graph, with or without a frequency format diagram, improved the accuracy of risk perception.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, randomized trial among women at increased risk for breast cancer. The main outcome measurement was patients' estimation of their breast cancer risk before and after education with a bar graph (BG group) or bar graph plus a frequency format diagram (BG+FF group), which was assessed by previsit and postvisit questionnaires.ResultsOf 150 women in the study, 74 were assigned to the BG group and 76 to the BG+FF group. Overall, 72% of women overestimated their risk of breast cancer. The improvement in accuracy of risk perception from the previsit to the postvisit questionnaire (BG group, 19% to 61%; BG+FF group, 13% to 67%) was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .10). Among women who inaccurately perceived very high risk (≥ 50% risk), inaccurate risk perception decreased significantly in the BG+FF group (22% to 3%) compared with the BG group (28% to 19%) (P = .004).ConclusionBreast cancer risk communication using a bar graph plus a frequency format diagram can improve the short-term accuracy of risk perception among women perceiving inaccurately high risk.
Highlights
Breast cancer risk education enables women make informed decisions regarding their options for screening and risk reduction
The aim of this study was to determine whether patient education regarding breast cancer risk using a bar graph alone or with the addition of a frequency format diagram improved the accuracy of risk perception and to assess women's preference for risk information provided as a bar graph versus in a frequency format
Of the 154 subjects who expressed an interest in the study, 150 provided informed consent and completed the previsit questionnaire; 74 patients (34 younger, 40 older) were randomly assigned to the BG group and 76 to the BG+FF group (36 younger, 40 older) (Figure 1)
Summary
Breast cancer risk education enables women make informed decisions regarding their options for screening and risk reduction. A woman's understanding of her breast cancer risk is, potentially important in her choice of breast cancer screening options or risk-reduction strategies. The ability to clearly and accurately convey the estimate of breast cancer risk is a vital component of patient education that can enable a woman to make an informed decision. Previous studies have shown that women tend to overestimate their risk of breast cancer [2,3] To decrease such misinterpretations of risk, it is imperative that women be presented information regarding their estimated risk of breast cancer in an understandable format tailored to their level of understanding. Several studies have analyzed risk communication, few have been randomized trials [2], and none, to our knowledge, have been randomized trials comparing the efficacy of specific formats of communicating risk among women at high risk for breast cancer
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
