Educating women about breast cancer. An intervention for women with a family history of breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate an "information aid" for women with a family history of breast cancer.

Design: Before-after descriptive study.

Setting: Family practices in Ontario.

Participants: Of 405 randomly selected Ontario physician members of the College of Family Physician's of Canada's National Research System, 97 agreed to participate and to recruit three consecutive female patients with any family history of breast cancer.

Interventions: Patients completed a baseline questionnaire and, after reviewing the information aid, a satisfaction questionnaire. Four weeks later, they completed a third questionnaire.

Main outcome measures: Patient satisfaction, knowledge, worries related to breast cancer, risk perception, and attitudes toward screening.

Results: Of 203 patients recruited, 160 (79%) completed all three questionnaires. The information aid was rated excellent or very good by 91% of the women; 99% would recommend it to other women. Knowledge improved significantly; worry about breast cancer did not increase.

Conclusion: The information aid is a useful resource for women and primary care physicians and could facilitate appropriate risk assessment and management of women with a family history of breast cancer.