title: Improving subjective perception of personal cancer risk: systematic review and meta-analysis of educational interventions for people with cancer or at high risk of cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Newly diagnosed patients with cancer require education about the disease, the available treatments and potential consequences of treatment. Greater understanding of cancer risk has been found to be associated with greater health-related quality of life, improved psychological adjustment and greater health-related behaviours. The aim of this sytematic review was to assess the effectiveness of educational interventions in improving subjective cancer risk perception and to appraise the quality of the studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies. Eligible studies were identified via Medline, PsycINFO, AMED, CINAHL and Embase databases. After screening titles and abstracts, two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of 206 full-text articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty papers were included in the review; the majority of studies were conducted among breast cancer patients (n = 29) and evaluated the effect of genetic counselling on personal perceived risk (n = 25). Pooled results from RCTs (n = 12) showed that, both in the short and long term, educational interventions did not significantly influence risk perception level (standardised mean difference 0.05, 95% CI -0.24-0.34; p = 0.74) or accuracy (odds ratio = 1.96, 95% CI: 0.61-6.25; p = 0.26). Only one RCT reported a short-term difference in risk ratings (p = 0.01). Of prospective observational studies (n = 28), many did demonstrate changes in the level of perceived risk and improved risk accuracy and risk ratings in both the short and long term. However, only one (of three) observational studies reported a short-term difference in risk ratings (p < = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further development and investigation of educational interventions using good quality, RCTs are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Epidemiology and Services Research, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Mbathio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieng
authors.forename: Caroline G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Nadine A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kasparian
authors.forename: Rachael L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cust
mesh_terms: D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010465:Perception; D012306:Risk
keywords: cancer; oncology; perceived risk; psycho-educational; review