title: Risk perception, worry and satisfaction related to genetic counseling for hereditary cancer.
abstract: In this multi center study, genetic counseling for hereditary cancer was evaluated by assessing patients' worry, perceived risk of developing cancer and satisfaction with genetic counseling. An overall aim was to identify characteristics of vulnerable patients in order to customize genetic counseling. In addition, agreement between patients' and counselors' scores was measured. A total of 275 Norwegian patients were consecutively recruited, and 213 completed questionnaires before and after genetic counseling. Patients' perceived risk decreased after the genetic counseling session. There was incongruence between risk perception expressed as a percentage and in words. Patients were significantly less worried after counseling. Higher levels of worry were predicted by low instrumental satisfaction with counseling, high degree of perceived risk of developing cancer and younger age. In conclusion, counselors met the patients' psychological needs to a satisfactory degree during counseling. However, patients did not fully understand their risk of developing cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bjorvatn
authors.forename: Geir Egil
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.forename: Berit Rokne
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hanestad
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Øyen
authors.forename: Odd E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Havik
authors.forename: Anniken
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berglund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires