title: Successful use of peer educators for sharing genetic information.
abstract: This study examined the impact of a genetics education module provided by Reach to Recovery peer volunteers. Participants included 113 women with confirmed breast cancer diagnoses. Eighty-eight of these women (78%) completed a baseline survey, participated in a peer-led intervention, and completed a follow-up survey. Approximately half of the women received an education module that included a genetic component, while the other half did not. Results indicated that women who received the genetics module had greater increases in genetics knowledge than the group that did not receive the module. However, follow-up interest in genetic testing was not significantly different between the two groups. Results indicate that a peer-led genetics module can increase knowledge about genetics. However, it does not appear to have a differential effect on genetic testing interest.
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. vickie.venne@hci.utah.edu
authors.forename: Vickie L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Venne
authors.forename: Heidi A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hamann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010379:Peer Group; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C118024:BLID protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human