Communicating breast cancer risk information to young adult women: A pilot study

Impact of Implementing B-RSTTM to Screen for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer on Risk Perception and Genetic Counseling Uptake Among Women in an Academic Safety Net Hospital

BACKGROUND

Lower socioeconomic status is strongly associated with decreased perception of cancer risk. Fewer low socioeconomic status women than expected currently access cancer genetic services from which they may benefit.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We screened women presenting for a screening mammogram at a safety net academic hospital using the Breast Cancer Genetics Referral Screening Tool Version 3.0 (B-RST^TM), an online tool designed to identify individuals potentially at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Participants screening either positive (high risk) or negative (moderate risk) were offered genetic counseling appointments. We used a brief survey to evaluate change in risk perception before and after using B-RST^TM, and after a genetic counseling appointment, if applicable. Barriers to accepting appointments were assessed when participants declined.

RESULTS

Of the 126 participants, 91 (72.2%) screened negative-average risk, 13 (10.3%) screened negative-moderate risk, and 22 (17.5%) screened positive. Of those who screened positive or negative-moderate, 24 (68.6%) expressed interested in a genetic counseling appointment, of which 19 (79.2%) scheduled. Four of the 19 scheduled (21.1%) completed the appointment. We found a significant difference in the number who rated their breast cancer risk correctly on the post-test between the groups who self-rated as low, moderate, or high risk. Those who perceived themselves as high risk were the most likely to rate their risk correctly on the post-test (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

We showed that using B-RST^TM in a safety net academic hospital was effective at identifying women at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.