Breast cancer genetic counselling referrals: how comparable are the findings between the UK and the Netherlands?
- 18 August 2011
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of Community Genetics
- Vol. 2 (4), 233-247
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-011-0061-1
Abstract
Counselees from different countries may differ in demographic and medical characteristics and this could affect their pre-counselling cognitions and psychosocial variables. Research outcomes may therefore not be easily transferable between countries. To examine this, a cross-national comparison of UK (West Midlands: WM) and Dutch (Middle Netherlands: MN) counselees in breast cancer genetic counselling was conducted. Two hundred thirty-eight WM and 156 MN proband counselees were compared on demographics, breast cancer history and referral pathways. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to check whether national differences in knowledge of breast cancer and heredity, risk perception, worry and information needs persisted when corrected for the background characteristics. About half of the Dutch compared to 8% of UK counselees were affected by breast cancer. More UK than Dutch counselees were at high risk from hereditary breast cancer. UK counselees had higher risk perceptions and more knowledge about breast cancer prevalence, but these differences lost significance when corrected for counselees' risk levels and other background characteristics. Counselees from the UK might report higher levels of worry than Dutch counselees and this could not be explained by their background characteristics. Comparisons of findings between the UK and the Netherlands show that the UK seems to have a higher percentage of high-risk referrals and these counselees seem to have higher risk perceptions. Irrespective of their actual risk level, UK counselees might be more worried. Comparing findings between the different countries raises questions about how transferable research findings are from one culture to another.Keywords
This publication has 46 references indexed in Scilit:
- Who is being referred to cancer genetic counseling? Characteristics of counselees and their referralJournal of Community Genetics, 2012
- Too Many Referrals of Low-Risk Women for BRCA1/2 Genetic Services by Family PhysiciansCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2008
- Differential use of available genetic tests among primary care physicians in the United States: results of a national surveyGenetics in Medicine, 2008
- Bismarck or Beveridge: a beauty contest between dinosaursBMC Health Services Research, 2007
- Initial cancer genetic counseling consultation: Change in counselees' cognitions and anxiety, and association with addressing their needs and preferencesAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 2005
- Communication in cancer genetic counselling: does it reflect counselees' previsit needs and preferences?British Journal of Cancer, 2005
- Lay Understanding of Familial Risk of Common Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Qualitative ResearchAnnals of Family Medicine, 2004
- Long-Term Psychological Impact of Carrying a BRCA1/2 Mutation and Prophylactic Surgery: A 5-Year Follow-Up StudyJournal of Clinical Oncology, 2003
- Goals of genetic counselingClinical Genetics, 2001
- Genetic counseling for families with inherited susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancerJAMA, 1993