 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Sato Ashida, MM, MT-BC1, Sharla K. Willis, DrPH2, Kevin M. Sweet, MS, CGC3, and Judith A. Westman, MD3. (1) School of Public Health, Ohio State University, B-218 Starling-Loving Hall, 320 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1240, 614-293-3965, ashida.2@osu.edu, (2) Ohio State University School of Public Health, 320 West 10th Ave., B209 Starling-Loving Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, (3) Clinical Cancer Genetics, Ohio State University, James Cancer Hospital, 410 West 10th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210
Assessment of hereditary cancer risk provides a new mode of cancer prevention through provision of appropriate predictive testing for those at increased risk, and promotion of screening and lifestyle changes. Jameslink, a computer-based, touch-screen family cancer history questionnaire, was developed to provide an understandable assessment of cancer risk and to obtain information that can positively influence cancer surveillance practices through health education materials and recommendations. To assess the impact this information had on people's behaviors and to assess why some people made genetic counseling appointments while others did not, five focus groups were conducted with 27 women who had completed the touch-screen questionnaire and received the highest risk rating along with a recommendation to seek genetic counseling or received an intermediate risk rating with a recommendation to increase surveillance. The extended parallel process model (EPPM) of fear appeal theory guided development of the focus groups' topics, which explored perceptions of severity of threat, susceptibility to the threat, recommended response, and the degree to which the recommended response will avert or minimize the threat. Preliminary findings confirm the appropriateness of the model and reveal that perceptions of the response efficacy of genetic counseling influenced participants' use of genetic counseling. Perceptions of cancer as an inevitable event and inadequate information regarding genetic counseling also influenced use. The data obtained through these focus groups will be used to develop appropriately tailored health messages, and a second series of focus groups will evaluate the potential of revised messages in increasing use of genetic counseling and cancer-screening behaviors among message recipients.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Cancer, Genetics
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.