Clinical, demographic, and psychological characteristics of new, asymptomatic participants in a transvaginal ultrasound screening program for ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Attitudinal, mood, and personality variables have been identified as predictors of uptake of routine screening for a variety of cancers, including those of the breast, cervix, and colon. Little information exists, however, regarding characteristics of participants in ovarian cancer (OC) screening.


METHODS
Asymptomatic women (n = 312; mean age = 57.45 years; range = 26-80) were assessed immediately before undergoing an initial transvaginal sonography (TVS) screening test for ovarian cancer (OCS group). Their responses were compared to identical information obtained from an age- and education-matched group of women with no history of screening for OC (HC group). All respondents completed measures of OC-related attitudes, knowledge, beliefs and risk perceptions, dispositional characteristics (informational coping style and dispositional optimism), and psychological distress.


RESULTS
Analyses revealed the OCS group was characterized not only by more OC-specific distress and a more extensive family history of OC but also by less optimism and less knowledge of OC risk factors. Group membership was unrelated to beliefs about the efficacy of TVS screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Results have implications for development of programs to increase appropriate participation in OC screening programs.
Salsman
John M
JM
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536-0086, USA. jmsals1@uky.edu
Pavlik
Edward
E
Boerner
Laura M
LM
Andrykowski
Michael A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging