Predictors of Perceived Susceptibility for Altered Breast-Ovarian Gene BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Women Who Have Never Been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Who Use Mammography Services

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Sunday, November 4, 2007

161

This presentation is part of : Research in Adult Health Issues

Janice B. Flynn, DSN, RN, School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA

Learning Objective #1: discuss the research study design and findings.
Learning Objective #2: discuss research findings that can guide nurses as they prepare for roles emerging from advances in genetic science.

Advances in genetic science have lead to the discovery of specific genetic mutations that lead to early onset breast cancer (BC) and are thought to account for 5 – 10 % of all breast cancers. The study examined predictive relationships among perceived risk of having an altered breast gene, perceived susceptibility to BC, perceived seriousness of BC, awareness of genetic testing, perceived benefits and limitations of genetic testing, knowledge about IBC and BRCA1 & BRCA2, family history of breast and ovarian cancer, risk factors for BC, health motivation, age, race and intent to obtain genetic testing.

A sample of 270 women was used. A composite questionnaire using the Champion Health Belief Subscales (1984;1993), National Center for Human Genome Research Cancer Studies Consortium Scales (Lerman, 1994: 1995), and the Myriad Family History Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression.

Perceived susceptibility to BC, intent to obtain genetic testing, and the number of 1^st degree relatives with ovarian cancer were predictors of perceived risk of having an altered breast gene explaining 29 % of the variance. There were multiple significant correlations between variables that did not enter the regression equation, including: awareness of genetic testing with knowledge and age (r = .41 and r = .21, respectively, both at p<.01); perceived susceptibility to BC with perceived seriousness of BC, perceived barriers to genetic testing, 1^st degree relatives with BC, and 1^st degree relatives with BC < age 50 (r = .29; r = .25, r = .28, r = .21 respectively, all at p<.01) and; benefits and barriers to genetic testing (r = .46, p<.01).

The results of this study provided preliminary data to guide nurses as they prepare for roles emerging from advances in genetic science.

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