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Gail Model Risk Assessment and Risk Perceptions

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Abstract

Patients can benefit from accessible breast cancer risk information. The Gail model is a well-known means of providing risk information to patients and for guiding clinical decisions. Risk presentation often includes 5-year and lifetime percent chances for a woman to develop breast cancer. How do women perceive their risks after Gail model risk assessment? This exploratory study used a randomized clinical trial design to address this question among women not previously selected for breast cancer risk. Results suggest a brief risk assessment intervention changes quantitative and comparative risk perceptions and improves accuracy. This study improves our understanding of risk perceptions by evaluating an intervention in a population not previously selected for high-risk status and measuring perceptions in a variety of formats.

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Correspondence to John M. Quillin.

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Quillin, J.M., Fries, E., McClish, D. et al. Gail Model Risk Assessment and Risk Perceptions. J Behav Med 27, 205–214 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBM.0000019852.53048.b3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBM.0000019852.53048.b3

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