Andrea Levy|Judy A. Shea|Sankey V. Williams|D. Alex Quistberg|Katrina Armstrong
Measuring Perceptions of Breast Cancer Risk
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute|Harvard University|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania|Center for Clinical Research (United States)
abstract background accurate measurement peoples risk perceptions important numerous bodies research clinical practice consensus best measure objective study evaluated three measures womens breast cancer risk perception assessing psychometric test characteristics design crosssectional mailed survey women primary care population asked participants rate chance developing breast cancer lifetime 0 100 numerical scale verbal scale five descriptive categories compare risk others seven categories six hundred three 956 women returned survey 631 analyzed surveys 566 women without selfreported personal history breast ovarian cancer results scores numeric verbal comparative measures correlated r ampgt 050 worry r ampgt 051 gail estimate r ampgt 026 family history r ampgt 025 numerical scale strongest correlation annual mammogram r 019 correlation gail estimate unassociated participants sociodemographics numerical comparative measures highest sensitivity 089090 specificity 099 identifying women high risk perception numerical comparative scale also well identifying women low risk perception although numerical scale highest specificity 096 whereas comparative scale highest sensitivity 089 conclusion different measures womens perceptions breast cancer risk different strengths weaknesses although numerical measure best overall optimal measure depends goals measure ie avoidance false positives false negatives cancer epidemiol biomarkers prev 2006151018938