Abstract
Background: Mutations in the BRCA 1/2 genes increase the risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer compared with the general population. However, the risk is low at age 30, and for women younger than 25, no preventive or screening options are available. Scientists wonder whether genetic predictive BRCA testing is appropriate at a very young age. Furthermore, although young women have positive attitudes toward testing, their understanding of genetic information seems scarce. Objective: To assess how young (18–24)versus adult (30–45)women at general population- level risk understand information about BRCA testing. Methods: 302 women read an informative pamphlet and answered an ad-hoc questionnaire assessing usefulness of the information for decision making, intention to undergo predictive testing, and comprehension (perceived, general, and risk comprehension; open-ended questions). Results: Younger women had a lower comprehension of important BRCA information; it was more difficult for young women to identify the risk figures of cancer, and they showed errors when answering open-ended questions. Limitations: Results are limited by the study's hypothetical nature. Conclusions: Young women seem to have particular difficulty understanding BRCA information. Practice implications: Counsellors should be aware of the difficulties young women have in understanding information about BRCA predictive testing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1210-1216 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Patient Education and Counseling |
| Volume | 102 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- BRCA mutation
- Breast and ovarian cancer
- Oncology
- Preventive genetic testing
- Young women
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Are young women ready for BRCA testing? Comparing attitudes and comprehension of two age groups of healthy Italian women. / Gavaruzzi, Teresa; Tasso, Alessandra; Franiuk, Marzena; Varesco, Liliana; Lotto, Lorella.
In: Patient Education and Counseling, Vol. 102, No. 6, 01.06.2019, p. 1210-1216.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Are young women ready for BRCA testing? Comparing attitudes and comprehension of two age groups of healthy Italian women
AU - Gavaruzzi, Teresa
AU - Tasso, Alessandra
AU - Franiuk, Marzena
AU - Varesco, Liliana
AU - Lotto, Lorella
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - Background: Mutations in the BRCA 1/2 genes increase the risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer compared with the general population. However, the risk is low at age 30, and for women younger than 25, no preventive or screening options are available. Scientists wonder whether genetic predictive BRCA testing is appropriate at a very young age. Furthermore, although young women have positive attitudes toward testing, their understanding of genetic information seems scarce. Objective: To assess how young (18–24)versus adult (30–45)women at general population- level risk understand information about BRCA testing. Methods: 302 women read an informative pamphlet and answered an ad-hoc questionnaire assessing usefulness of the information for decision making, intention to undergo predictive testing, and comprehension (perceived, general, and risk comprehension; open-ended questions). Results: Younger women had a lower comprehension of important BRCA information; it was more difficult for young women to identify the risk figures of cancer, and they showed errors when answering open-ended questions. Limitations: Results are limited by the study's hypothetical nature. Conclusions: Young women seem to have particular difficulty understanding BRCA information. Practice implications: Counsellors should be aware of the difficulties young women have in understanding information about BRCA predictive testing.
AB - Background: Mutations in the BRCA 1/2 genes increase the risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer compared with the general population. However, the risk is low at age 30, and for women younger than 25, no preventive or screening options are available. Scientists wonder whether genetic predictive BRCA testing is appropriate at a very young age. Furthermore, although young women have positive attitudes toward testing, their understanding of genetic information seems scarce. Objective: To assess how young (18–24)versus adult (30–45)women at general population- level risk understand information about BRCA testing. Methods: 302 women read an informative pamphlet and answered an ad-hoc questionnaire assessing usefulness of the information for decision making, intention to undergo predictive testing, and comprehension (perceived, general, and risk comprehension; open-ended questions). Results: Younger women had a lower comprehension of important BRCA information; it was more difficult for young women to identify the risk figures of cancer, and they showed errors when answering open-ended questions. Limitations: Results are limited by the study's hypothetical nature. Conclusions: Young women seem to have particular difficulty understanding BRCA information. Practice implications: Counsellors should be aware of the difficulties young women have in understanding information about BRCA predictive testing.
KW - BRCA mutation
KW - Breast and ovarian cancer
KW - Oncology
KW - Preventive genetic testing
KW - Young women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060895136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85060895136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2019.01.022
DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2019.01.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 30718092
AN - SCOPUS:85060895136
VL - 102
SP - 1210
EP - 1216
JO - Patient Education and Counseling
JF - Patient Education and Counseling
SN - 0738-3991
IS - 6
ER -