Practical assessment of psychosocial concerns associated with genetic testing in ovarian cancer patients using the MICRA questionnaire.

Abstract

9569 Background: Ten to 15% of ovarian cancer patients are BRCA mutation carriers. By offering genetic testing, families at risk and healthy female mutation carriers will be identified and offered clinical follow-up. The MICRA questionnaire was developed as a brief, practical, and targeted assessment of concerns and psychosocial issues associated with genetic testing. This study evaluates the practical and psychometric properties of the MICRA (Norwegian translation) in tested ovarian cancer patient. Methods: Since 2002, ovarian cancer patients at Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital are offered genetic counseling and testing. By the end of 2009, 1,032 were included. The 530 (51%) patients still alive, were mailed the MICRA and three other instruments relevant for mental distress. 354 (67%) patients responded. Among them 9% were BRCA mutation carriers, 7% had a personal history of breast cancer, 29% had a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, and 55% had no such family history. Results: In the BRCA mutation carrier group, the total MICRA score and its subscale scores of distress, uncertainty, and positive experiences were all significantly higher than in the other groups. Confirmatory factor analyses of the three subscales of MICRA showed inadequate fit indices, while a four factors solution including the new factor of Support from family (items #18 and #19), showed adequate fit. The Positive Experiences subscale showed a maximum of 4% explained variance in relation to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total score, the Impact of Event Avoidance and Intrusion scores, and the Eysenck’s Neuroticism score. The subscales of Distress and Uncertainty showed maximum 12% and 41% explained variance, respectively, while the total MICRA score showed 22% explained variance. Conclusions: Our study supports the feasibility of the MICRA in ovarian cancer patients. Frail women may be identified for closer follow-up by using MICRA. Discrimant, content and construct validities of the MICRA were supported, while the factor structure still is open to further investigation.