Bennett Paul, Wilkinson Clare, Turner Jim, Griffith Gethin, France Barbara, Brain Kate, Gray Jonathon
Centre for Nursing, Health and Social Research, University of Cardiff, Cardiff CF24 0AB, UK.
J Genet Couns. 2007 Oct;16(5):617-23. doi: 10.1007/s10897-007-9100-9. Epub 2007 Jun 5.
One hundred and fifty-four women undergoing breast/ovarian cancer genetic risk assessment completed questionnaires at entry into the Cancer Genetic Service for Wales (CGSW) assessment program and following risk provision, mapping the strength of intentions to engage in a number of preventive/surveillance behaviors, including seeing specialists, breast self-examination, and involvement in screening programs, including mammography. A number of potential predictors of intentions were also assessed, including participants' mood and emotional response to receiving risk information, the perceived benefits (in terms of reassurance and early disease detection) of engaging in each preventive behavior, and the perceived desires of their family and General Practitioner. Intentions to self-examine did not change following risk provision, although strength of intentions to engage in some other preventive behaviors did lessen. Family and General Practitioners appeared to be strong social influences on behavioral intentions, as were the perceived benefits of gaining reassurance and/or early detection of disease.
