Management strategies for women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer: Are women satisfied?

Abstract

1524 Background: Women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer have two major management options to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer, periodic screening (PS) or prophylactic oophorectomy (PO). Little is known regarding patient satisfaction levels with choice of risk reduction strategy. Our objective was to determine levels of patient satisfaction with PO versus PS and to identify factors which may influence satisfaction. Methods: As part of a larger study, women who received BRCA1/2 testing before July 2005 were sent a follow-up patient questionnaire packet. We are reporting on the Cancer Worry Scale and Satisfaction With Decision (SWD) scale (range of possible scores, 6–30). The lowest 10th percentile of the SWD score (21) was used to define low satisfaction. Chi-square, t-Test and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: A total of 540 surveys were mailed and 309 responses were received (57%). We excluded 127 patients due to history of an oophorectomy for benign or malignant indications or incomplete SWD scale. The median age of respondents was 48.2. 60/182 women (33%) had BRCA mutations and 64/182 (35.2%) underwent PO. The overall satisfaction rate among respondents was high (median score 29, range 14–30). Median SWD score was significantly higher in patients in the PO group compared to the PS group (30.0 vs. 26.5, p<.001). Patients with BRCA mutations had higher median SWD scores, regardless of management type (30.0 vs. 28.0, p=.013). Low satisfaction scores were associated with the perception that the decision between PO and PS was difficult to make (p=.001). Patients who expressed ongoing difficulty in their decision-making also had lower satisfaction scores (p=.016). Satisfaction was unrelated to demographics, clinical factors, or concerns of cancer risk. Conclusions: In our study, the majority of women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer were satisfied with their choice of risk reduction strategy. In particular, women who chose PO had higher levels of overall satisfaction. Difficulty with decision-making was associated with lower satisfaction levels. Improved education and support of these women through the decision-making process may enhance overall levels of satisfaction with risk reduction strategy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.