title: Knowledge of tumor markers and the psychological consequences of tumor marker sampling in patients with gynecologic cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of knowledge about serum tumor markers in patients suffering from gynecologic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  360 women with a median age of 60 years (range: 26-88 years) visiting the oncological outpatient clinic of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University of Vienna, between February and July 1998, were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients (85.2%) believed it was important to know about tumor markers and felt safe when they knew the recent level of the tumor marker (71.6%). On the other hand, many patients felt they were insufficiently informed (43%). 88.9% of the patients did not know the recent serum level of the tumor marker. The patients who had been informed by a physician were significantly better informed about tumor markers than women relying on other sources such as nurses, relatives or other patients (p < 0.001). Patients with an age of more than 65 years significantly less frequently knew the meaning of tumor markers (p < 0.001). Fewer women suffering from ovarian cancer were uninformed about tumor markers as compared to women suffering from other malignancies (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the majority of patients in oncological follow-up are interested in tumor markers and want to be informed about these substances. Periodical serum tumor marker sampling is regarded as a safety measure by patients, but information about tumor markers should be improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria. klaus.mayerhofer@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schindl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaider
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leodolter
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Joura
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kainz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor