Predicting the use of individualized risk assessment for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the decision to obtain individualized risk assessment (IRA) after a breast cancer education session.


METHODS
A sample of both African American and Caucasian women was used to determine if there were differences by race/ethnicity in uptake of the assessment and differences in the variables that were most predictive of uptake. The sample included 166 women between the ages of 18 and 80. Sixty-two percent of the sample were African American women.


RESULTS
The results suggested that African American women and Caucasian women used different factors and used other factors differently to decide whether or not to obtain an IRA.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are discussed within the context of health disparities among ethnic minority and Caucasian women with implications for breast cancer control programs. The results of this study suggest that knowledge alone does not lead to opting for a personalized risk assessment, and that African American and Caucasian women use different pieces of information, or information differently to make decision about getting more personalized information about risk.
Bartle-Haring
Suzanne
S
Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. haring.19@osu.edu
Toviessi
Paula
P
Katafiasz
Heather
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American