Big gap between risk perception for breast cancer and risk factors: nationwide survey in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To explore perceived risk of breast cancer among Korean women and to investigate factors associated with perceived risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
A telephone survey using random digit dialing was conducted with an age- and region-stratified random sample of women in Korea. The study population consisted of 1000 women who participated in telephone surveys in which a 21-item questionnaire was administered.


RESULTS
This study showed a significant level of comparative optimism in breast cancer risk perception in Korean women with an average risk of breast cancer. According to the multivariate analysis, younger age, family history of breast cancer, and history of benign breast disease were the factors associated with higher perceived comparative risk of breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding that a limited number of breast cancer risk factors were related to perceived risk of breast cancer is worrying because women with other risk factors for breast cancer may believe themselves to be at lower risk.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary for women to understand their risk factor profiles to avoid biased optimism or pessimism.
Park
Keeho
K
Cancer Information and Education Branch, National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea.
Chang
Sei Jin
SJ
Kim
Hyeon Chang
HC
Park
Eun Cheol
EC
Lee
Eun Sook
ES
Nam
Chung Mo
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires