Frequency format diagram and probability chart for breast cancer risk communication: a prospective, randomized trial

• Main Authors: Wahner-Roedler Dietlind, Johnson Ruth E, Sandhu Nicole P, Neal Lonzetta, Williams Constance I, Pruthi Sandhya, Crawford Brianna J, Ghosh Karthik, Britain Marcia K, Cha Stephen S, Ghosh Amit K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2008-10-01
• Series: BMC Women's Health
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/8/18

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancer risk education enables women make informed decisions regarding their options for screening and risk reduction. We aimed to determine whether patient education regarding breast cancer risk using a bar graph, with or without a frequency format diagram, improved the accuracy of risk perception.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a prospective, randomized trial among women at increased risk for breast cancer. The main outcome measurement was patients' estimation of their breast cancer risk before and after education with a bar graph (BG group) or bar graph plus a frequency format diagram (BG+FF group), which was assessed by previsit and postvisit questionnaires.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 150 women in the study, 74 were assigned to the BG group and 76 to the BG+FF group. Overall, 72% of women overestimated their risk of breast cancer. The improvement in accuracy of risk perception from the previsit to the postvisit questionnaire (BG group, 19% to 61%; BG+FF group, 13% to 67%) was not significantly different between the 2 groups (<it>P </it>= .10). Among women who inaccurately perceived very high risk (≥ 50% risk), inaccurate risk perception decreased significantly in the BG+FF group (22% to 3%) compared with the BG group (28% to 19%) (<it>P </it>= .004).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Breast cancer risk communication using a bar graph plus a frequency format diagram can improve the short-term accuracy of risk perception among women perceiving inaccurately high risk.</p>