Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013 Aug 8;10(8):3483-501. doi: 10.3390/ijerph10083483.
Communication of familial risk of breast cancer and melanoma has the potential to educate relatives about their risk, and may also motivate them to engage in prevention and early detection practices. With the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy laws, the patient often becomes the sole communicator of such risks to family members. This study surveys mothers diagnosed with either breast cancer or melanoma and their adult children about their family communication style, knowledge of increased risk, and early detection practices. In both cancer groups, most mothers alerted their children of the risk and need for early detection practices. Breast cancer mothers communicated risk and secondary prevention with early detection by breast self-examination and mammograms whereas the melanoma mothers communicated risk and primary prevention strategies like applying sunscreen and avoiding deliberate tanning. Open communication about health matters significantly increased the likelihood that children engaged in early detection and/or primary prevention behaviors. Examining the information conveyed to at-risk family members, and whether such information motivated them to engage in early detection/prevention behaviors, is key to guiding better cancer prevention communication between doctors and patients.
家族乳腺癌和黑色素瘤风险的沟通有可能使亲属了解自己的风险，并促使他们参与预防和早期检测实践。随着《健康保险携带和责任法案》（HIPAA）隐私法规的出现，患者往往成为向家庭成员传达此类风险的唯一沟通者。本研究调查了患有乳腺癌或黑色素瘤的母亲及其成年子女的家庭沟通方式、对风险增加的认识以及早期检测实践。在这两个癌症组中，大多数母亲提醒孩子存在风险并需要进行早期检测。乳腺癌母亲通过乳房自我检查和乳房 X 光检查来沟通风险和二级预防，而黑色素瘤母亲则通过涂抹防晒霜和避免故意晒黑等一级预防策略来沟通风险。关于健康问题的开放沟通显著增加了孩子进行早期检测和/或一级预防行为的可能性。检查传达给有风险的家庭成员的信息，以及这些信息是否促使他们参与早期检测/预防行为，是指导医生和患者之间更好的癌症预防沟通的关键。
