What Factors Influence Women’s Perceptions of their Systemic Recurrence Risk after Breast Cancer Treatment?

Kamaria L. Lee, Nancy K. Janz, Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher, Reshma Jagsi, Lauren P. Wallner, Allison W. Kurian, Steven J. Katz, Paul Abrahamse and Sarah T. Hawley

Medical Decision Making, 2018, vol. 38, issue 1, 95-106

Abstract: Background. Breast cancer patients’ misunderstanding of their systemic cancer recurrence risk has consequences on decision-making and quality of life. Little is known about how women derive their risk estimates. Methods. Using Los Angeles and Georgia’s SEER registries (2014–2015), a random sample of early-stage breast cancer patients was sent surveys about 2 to 3 months after surgery ( N = 3930; RR, 68%). We conducted an inductive thematic analysis of open-ended responses about why women chose their risk estimates in a uniquely large sub-sample ( N = 1,754). Clinician estimates of systemic recurrence risk were provided for patient sub-groups with DCIS and with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk invasive disease. Women’s perceived risk of systemic recurrence (0% to 100%) was categorized as overestimation, reasonably accurate estimation, or underestimation (0% for invasive disease) and was compared across identified factors and by clinical presentation. Results. Women identified 9 main factors related to their clinical experience (e.g., diagnosis and testing; treatment) and non-clinical beliefs (e.g., uncertainty; spirituality). Women who mentioned at least one clinical experience factor were significantly less likely to overestimate their risk (12% v. 43%, P

Keywords: breast cancer; qualitative methods; risk communication; risk perception; systemic recurrence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:medema:v:38:y:2018:i:1:p:95-106

DOI: 10.1177/0272989X17724441

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