Psychosocial factors associated with cancer behavioural risk in relatives of cancer patients

Behavioural cancer risk factors in women diagnosed with primary breast cancer

AIMS

To investigate behavioural risk factors and self-efficacy among women diagnosed with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND

The appearance of new tumours in breast cancer survivors is influenced by risk behaviours. Knowing their prevalence and women's perceived ability to adopt a healthy lifestyle would allow designing educational interventions aimed at modifying these behaviours.

DESIGN

An observational cross-sectional study of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

METHODS

The study was carried out in Asturias (Spain). A total of 2407 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1998-2008 were selected and 492 women agreed to participate. Self-reported data on risk factors self-efficacy were gathered through a telephone interview based on the European Code against Cancer conducted between February-June 2010.

RESULTS

A total of 16·1% of women in this study were regular smokers, 5% drank alcohol excessively, 49% were overweight, 54% reported a lower level of physical activity than recommended and 7·5% did not use sun protection. The Total Cancer Behavioural Risk indicator was calculated by adding up the results of all modifiable risks contained in the European Code against Cancer, with an average score of 21·6 in a scale from 0-78 points (0 = null cancer risk, 78 = maximum cancer risk). Self-efficacy levels were very high among our participants.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that there is a need to design programmes to promote a healthy lifestyle among women diagnosed with breast cancer. Nurses have an important role to play in planning and implementing these programmes, using the most efficient educational techniques.

Impact of a primary care intervention on smoking, drinking, diet, weight, sun exposure, and work risk in families with cancer experience

BACKGROUND

Modifying multiple behavior risks is a promising approach to reduce cancer risk. Primary prevention advices of the European Code against Cancer were included in an educational intervention (EI) using social cognitive theories for motivating families with cancer experiences to adopt six cancer prevention behaviors.

METHODS

A randomized clinical controlled trial recruited 3,031 patients from Primary Care among cancer patients' relatives. The experimental group (EG) received four EI, one EI every six months, focused on tobacco, alcohol, diet, weight, sun and work, and based on social cognitive models. The impact of the first three EI was calculated measuring at baseline and 18 months later: (a) The percentage of people with each risk behavior; (b) The score reached in a Total Cancer Behavioral Risk (TCBR) indicator; (c) The Odds Ratios at the post-test.

RESULTS

Five risk behaviors decreased significantly more (p<0.01) in the EG than in the CG: Smoking (OR=0.662), drinking (OR=0.504), diet (OR=0.542), weight (OR=0.698), and sun (OR=0.389). The TCBR indicator also decreased an average of nearly 5 points (28.42 vs. 23.82), significantly more (p<0.001) in the EG.

CONCLUSION

Families with cancer experiences changed five cancer risk behaviors when approached in Primary Care with interventions based on social cognitive models.