Laura D. Scherer|Peter A. Ubel|Jennifer B. McClure|Sarah M. Greene|Sharon Hensley Alford|Lisa Holtzman|Nicole Exe|Angela Fagerlin
Belief in numbers: When and why women disbelieve tailored breast cancer risk statistics
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|VA Center for Clinical Management Research|Duke University|Seattle University|Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute|Seattle University|Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute|Henry Ford Health System|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|VA Center for Clinical Management Research
examine women disbelieve tailored information risk developing breast cancer 690 women participated online program learn medications reduce risk breast cancer program presented tailored information womans personal breast cancer risk half women told risk numbers calculated whereas rest later asked whether believed program personalized whether believed risk numbers woman believe risk numbers asked explain beliefs program personalized enhanced explaining risk calculation methods detail nonetheless nearly 20 women believe personalized risk numbers common reason rejecting risk estimate belief fully account personal family history benefits tailored risk statistics may attenuated tendency people skeptical risk estimates apply personally decision aids may provide risk information accepted patients addressing patients personal circumstances may lead greater acceptance