Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36536421›Full record

ArticleHereditary cancer in clinical practice2022

Psychological factors and the uptake of preventative measures in BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers: results of a prospective cohort study.

Julia Dick, Anja Tüchler, Anne Brédart, Frank Vitinius, Kirsten Wassermann, Kerstin Rhiem, Rita K Schmutzler

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Hereditary cancer in clinical practice, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Barriers and interventions to improve the uptake of cancer risk management strategies in hereditary cancer syndromes: a narrative review.International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Counselling Framework for GermlineCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2024
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Julia Dick *Center for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3325-7892
Anja Tüchler *Center for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9985-8397
Anne BrédartInstitut Curie, Supportive Care Department, Psycho-oncology Unit, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris Cedex 05, Paris, France.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1864-5371
Frank VitiniusDepartment of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4685-4189
Kirsten WassermannPsychologische Praxis, Bonn, Germany.
Kerstin RhiemCenter for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany. kerstin.rhiem@uk-koeln.de.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9669-5657
Rita K SchmutzlerCenter for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
University of Cologne · DELaboratoire Vision Action Cognition · FR

Funding

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit IIA5-2512 FSB 002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWomen carrying BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants are exposed to elevated risks of developing breast cancer (BC) and are faced by a complex decision-making process on preventative measures, i.e., risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM), and intensified breast surveillance (IBS). In this prospective cohort study we investigated the effect of anxiety, personality factors and coping styles on the decision-making process on risk management options in women with pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2.

methodsBreast cancer unaffected and affected women with a pathogenic variant in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene were psychologically evaluated immediately before (T0), 6 to 8 weeks (T1) and 6 to 8 months (T2) after the disclosure of their genetic test results. Uptake of RRM and IBS was assessed at T2. Psychological data were gathered using questionnaires on risk perception, personality factors, coping styles, decisional conflict, depression and anxiety, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We performed tests on statistical significance and fitted a logistic regression based on significance level.

resultsA total of 98 women were included in the analysis. Baseline anxiety levels in women opting for RRM were high but decreased over time, while they increased in women opting for intensified breast surveillance (IBS). Elevated levels of anxiety after genetic test result disclosure (T1) were associated with the decision to undergo RRM (p < 0.01; OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.05-1.42), while personal BC history and personality factors seemed to be less relevant.

conclusionsConsidering psychosocial factors influencing the decision-making process of women with pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 may help improving their genetic and psychological counselling. When opting for IBS they may profit from additional medical and psychological counselling.

trial registrationRetrospectively registered at the German Clinical Trials Register under DRKS00027566 on January 13, 2022.

Indexed as

AnxietyBreast cancer, familialDecision makingRisk-reducing mastectomyRisk reduction behavior

Identifiers

PMID36536421
PMCPMC9761978
OpenAlexW4312113891

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.