Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To describe knowledge of hereditary, familial, and sporadic breast cancer risk factors among women in the community and to identify characteristics associated with this knowledge.
DESIGN
Descriptive, cross-sectional.
SETTING
Community settings in the San Francisco Bay Area.
SAMPLE
184 women who had never been diagnosed with cancer, were 30-85 years old (mean = 47 + 12), and agreed to complete a questionnaire in English. Participants were from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds (i.e., 43% European descent, 27% African descent, 16% Asian descent, and 14% Hispanic descent). Many (49%) were college graduates, and 24% had a median annual family income of $30,000-$50,000.
METHODS
Survey.
MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Knowledge of hereditary, familial, and sporadic breast cancer risk factors and characteristics associated with this knowledge.
FINDINGS
Although most women recognized heredity as a risk factor, some did not understand the impact of paternal family history on risk. Some women did not recognize the relationship between breast and ovarian cancer, risk factors associated with the Gail model, and that aging increases risk. Education level was the most important characteristic associated with knowledge of risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS
Although age and family history are independent predictors of sporadic, hereditary, and familial breast cancer risk, women in the community could not distinguish between the three forms of the disease. Although the sample included a large number of educated women, their knowledge of breast cancer risk factors appeared incomplete.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Advanced practice nurses should provide individualized risk assessment and education regarding breast cancer risk factors.
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