C15
Family cancer events and patients’ understanding of family history of cancer
Jennifer NW Lim1, Hamdan Al-Habsi2, Jenny Hewison3
1University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, 2Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, Oman, 3University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Background
Few studies of cancer genetics in primary care have examined patients’ perspectives, and none have included patient initiated consultations. Little is known therefore about the role of family history in causing patients to consult their GP about their risk of cancer. The aim of the present study was to obtain patients’ accounts of consultations in which family history of cancer was discussed with their GP. Only asymptomatic patients were eligible to take part.
Method
Individual interviews guided by a topic list were tape recorded, transcribed and content analysed.
Results
71 asymptomatic patients, referred for assessment of family history of breast, ovarian, and bowel cancers by their GP to a regional genetics centre, completed the study. A recent event in the family (death, diagnosis and recurrence of cancer) was the most common reason for consulting the GP. Advice from hospital consultant/surgeon was the second most common reason, followed by the participant having reached the age at which a relative had been diagnosed or died from cancer. None of the patients specifically said family history of cancer prompted or motivated them to visit the GP. Knowledge of what constituted a relevant family history was very limited: about half of the 51 patients who had two or more affected relatives nonetheless considered their family history to be of little or no importance in determining their own risk of cancer.
Conclusion
Family cancer events may prompt patients to consult about their own cancer risk for a variety of reasons that have little to do with genetics. Further research is needed to explore lay understanding and how this influences health behaviour and decision-making.
