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Risk Perception, Worry and Satisfaction Related to Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancer

  • Original Research
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Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

In this multi center study, genetic counseling for hereditary cancer was evaluated by assessing patients’ worry, perceived risk of developing cancer and satisfaction with genetic counseling. An overall aim was to identify characteristics of vulnerable patients in order to customize genetic counseling. In addition, agreement between patients’ and counselors’ scores was measured. A total of 275 Norwegian patients were consecutively recruited, and 213 completed questionnaires before and after genetic counseling. Patients’ perceived risk decreased after the genetic counseling session. There was incongruence between risk perception expressed as a percentage and in words. Patients were significantly less worried after counseling. Higher levels of worry were predicted by low instrumental satisfaction with counseling, high degree of perceived risk of developing cancer and younger age. In conclusion, counselors met the patients’ psychological needs to a satisfactory degree during counseling. However, patients did not fully understand their risk of developing cancer.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank all patients and counselors who participated in the study. The authors are grateful for the assistance with data collection provided by the Center of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway and the Center of Medical Genetics, St. Olav Hospital, Norway. We also thank our funding sources: The Norwegian Research Board (Functional Genome project (FUGE) no 155757/510).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Cathrine Bjorvatn, Geir Egil Eide, Berit Rokne Hanestad, Nina Øyen & Anniken Carlsson

  2. Center of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Cathrine Bjorvatn & Nina Øyen

  3. Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Geir Egil Eide

  4. Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Gunilla Berglund

  5. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Odd E. Havik & Gunilla Berglund

  6. Cathrine Bjorvatn, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018, Bergen, Norway

    Cathrine Bjorvatn

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  1. Cathrine Bjorvatn
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  2. Geir Egil Eide
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Correspondence to Cathrine Bjorvatn.

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Bjorvatn, C., Eide, G., Hanestad, B. et al. Risk Perception, Worry and Satisfaction Related to Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Cancer. J Genet Counsel 16, 211–222 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-006-9061-4

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