Patients with Barrett's esophagus perceive their risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma as low.
BACKGROUND
The risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is approximately 0.5% per year.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate how patients with BE estimate and perceive their risk of developing EAC.


METHODS
Questionnaire study.


METHODS
Patients with BE who were undergoing surveillance endoscopy based on histologic and flow cytometric results.


METHODS
A total of 192 patients with BE were included.


METHODS
Individual patients were asked to estimate the numerical risk to develop EAC for patients with BE in general and for themselves. How patients perceived their own risk was measured on a scale from "very small" to "very large."


RESULTS
At least 1 question was filled out by 169 patients (88% response). Sixty percent of respondents underestimated the numerical risk for patients with BE, in general, to develop EAC, while even more patients (69%) underestimated their own risk. Most respondents perceived their own risk as very small or small (63%).


CONCLUSIONS
Risk estimations may depend on the response scale used.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with BE underestimated the numerical risk and perceived their risk of developing EAC as (very) low. Despite a low perceived risk, all patients in this group adhered to endoscopic surveillance.
Kruijshaar
Michelle E
ME
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Siersema
Peter D
PD
Janssens
A Cecile J W
AC
Kerkhof
Marjon
M
Steyerberg
Ewout W
EW
Essink-Bot
Marie-Louise
ML
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires