title: Effects of counseling Ashkenazi Jewish women about breast cancer risk.
abstract: The goal of this study was to determine whether genetic counseling or psychosocial group counseling provided to Ashkenazi women can reduce breast cancer worry, cancer risk perception, and interest in having genetic testing. Women (N=211) were randomized to receive individual genetic risk counseling, to receive a group psychosocial group counseling, or to serve as a control group. The authors found that both counseling methods reduced cancer worry, lowered perceptions of breast cancer risk, and decreased interest in having genetic testing. Counseling can help women gain a more accurate perception of their risk, expose them to the benefits and limitations of genetic testing, and reduce their worry about cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. dbowen@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Wylie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Julie O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Culver
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crystal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior