title: The distinct role of comparative risk perceptions in a breast cancer prevention program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comparative risk perceptions may rival other types of information in terms of effects on health behavior decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined associations between comparative risk perceptions, affect, and behavior while controlling for absolute risk perceptions and actual risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women at an increased risk of breast cancer participated in a program to learn about tamoxifen which can reduce the risk of breast cancer. They reported comparative risk perceptions of breast cancer and completed measures of anxiety, knowledge, and tamoxifen-related behavior intentions. Three months later, the women reported their behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparative risk perceptions were positively correlated with anxiety, knowledge, intentions, and behavior 3 months later. After controlling for participants' actual risk of breast cancer and absolute risk perceptions, comparative risk perceptions predicted anxiety and knowledge, but not intentions or behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparative risk perceptions can affect patient outcomes like anxiety and knowledge independently of absolute risk perceptions and actual risk information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA. dillaram@gvsu.edu
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dillard
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ubel
authors.forename: Dylan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zikmund-Fisher
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Derry
authors.forename: Aijun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rosemarie K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pitsch
authors.forename: Sharon Hensley
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Alford
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagerlin
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013629:Tamoxifen