What information do healthcare professionals need to inform premenopausal women about risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify the unmet information needs of healthcare professionals managing risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) in premenopausal women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals managing high-risk women in Victoria, Australia. Questions included roles and responsibilities around RRBSO, perceived barriers to uptake of RRBSO, and unmet information needs.

RESULTS

One hundred eighteen healthcare professionals across 10 different disciplines and specialties were approached to participate, of whom 47 completed the survey. Most respondents were genetic counselors (47%) or nurses (19%) and all worked in the public health system. Almost all (81%) provided information about RRBSO, but there was considerable uncertainty about who was responsible for making decisions with high-risk women about RRBSO. Most (85%) were "quite a bit" or "extremely" confident about informing high-risk women about ovarian cancer risk reduction from RRBSO and the surgical procedure (47%), but only one-third were "quite a bit" or "extremely" confident about discussing (36%) or managing (31%) surgical menopause. Furthermore, surgical menopause was considered the main barrier (88%, "quite a bit" or "extremely") to RRBSO. Most healthcare professionals (78%) wanted more information and resources about surgical menopause for high-risk women.

CONCLUSIONS

There is uncertainty around the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals managing high-risk women around RRBSO. Surgical menopause is perceived as a major barrier to RRBSO and healthcare professionals lack confidence in managing this outcome. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A477.