1. Women's perceptions of personalized risk-based breast cancer screening and prevention: An international focus group study
- Author
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Anna Jervaeus, Yvonne Wengström, Linda Rainey, Per Hall, D. Gareth Evans, Louise S Donnelly, Daniëlle van der Waal, Mireille J. M. Broeders, and Mattias Hammarström
- Subjects
Emotions ,risk stratification ,Breast cancer screening ,risk prediction ,0302 clinical medicine ,prevention ,Cultural diversity ,Mass Screening ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Early Detection of Cancer ,media_common ,Netherlands ,attitudes ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Focus Groups ,Middle Aged ,Women's cancers Radboud Institute for Health Sciences [Radboudumc 17] ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Papers ,oncology ,Anxiety ,Female ,Thematic analysis ,medicine.symptom ,Risk assessment ,Psychology ,Attitude to Health ,Paper ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Decision Making ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Breast Neoplasms ,Risk Assessment ,03 medical and health sciences ,All institutes and research themes of the Radboud University Medical Center ,Breast cancer ,breast cancer ,Perception ,acceptability ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Sweden ,screening ,Patient Acceptance of Health Care ,medicine.disease ,Focus group ,United Kingdom ,Family medicine - Abstract
ObjectiveIncreased knowledge of breast cancer risk factors enables a shift from one‐size‐fits‐all breast cancer screening to a risk‐based approach, tailoring screening policy to a woman's individual risk. New opportunities for prevention will arise. However, before this novel screening and prevention program is introduced, its acceptability from a woman's perspective needs to be explored.MethodsWomen eligible for breast cancer screening in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Sweden were invited to take part in focus groups. A total of 143 women participated. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsAnalysis identified five themes across the three countries. The first theme “impact of knowledge” describes women's concern of not being able to unlearn their risk, perceiving it as either a motivator for change or a burden which may lead to stigma. The second theme “belief in science” explains women's need to trust the science behind the risk assessment and subsequent care pathways. Theme three “emotional impact” explores, eg, women's perceived anxiety and (false) reassurance, which may result from knowing their risk. Theme four “decision making” highlights cultural differences in shared versus individual decision making. Theme five “attitude to medication” explores the controversial topic of offering preventative medication for breast cancer risk reduction.ConclusionsAcceptability of risk‐based screening and prevention is mixed. Women's perceptions are informed by a lack of knowledge, cultural norms, and common emotional concerns, which highlights the importance of tailored educational materials and risk counselling to aid either shared or individual informed decision making.
- Published
- 2019