title: Duration of an intervention's impact on perceived breast cancer risk.
abstract: This study explored risk perceptions after breast cancer risk appraisal. The study involved a randomized trial of Women's Health clinic patients (>or= 40 years old). Primary outcome was perceived breast cancer risk at baseline, 1 month, 6 months, and 18 months. Perceived breast cancer risks were higher than actual calculated risks at baseline. At baseline, 45% reported moderate/strong risk and 43% reported lower-than-average risk; 53% said that their risk was lower than 15%. Mean perceived lifetime risk was 31 out of 100. Throughout follow-up, the treatment group reported lower risks by all measures, as compared to controls. However, for African American women, perceived risk "out of 100 women" did not change. A brief health risk appraisal tends to lower breast cancer risk perceptions for at least 18 months, but the impact may vary by race/ethnicity. These findings could affect health behaviors, such as annual mammograms, which are influenced by perceived risk.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0033, USA. jquillin@mcvh-vcu.edu
authors.forename: John Martin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quillin
authors.forename: Donna K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: McClish
authors.forename: Resa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Diane B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tracy
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borzelleca
authors.forename: Joann N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bodurtha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People