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What motivates interest in attending a familial cancer genetics clinic?

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Abstract

The motivation of people who seek advice about a family history of cancer was explored in a cross sectional study of new cancer referrals to five regional cancer genetics centres in England: the PACT (patient and clinical team) psychosocial study. One hundred sixty-two people took part. Measures were source of referral, estimated and perceived cancer risk, level of cancer worry, and personal and family-centred reasons for wanting to be seen in clinic. General practitioners referred more people than hospital doctors, and referred a larger proportion of people at low genetic risk of developing cancer. More than half of the participants had been the first to raise the issue of their family history of cancer. Personal motivation for referral is clearly different for those who have had a diagnosis of cancer and for those with children, compared to unaffected and childless people, and is characterised by altruistic concern for other family members rather than a perception of increased personal risk. Men and people from ethnic minorities are very significantly under-represented. Understanding people's motivation may be useful in targeting genetic counselling for people with a family history of cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Guy's Hospital, London, UK

    L. Fraser

  2. Department of Clinical Genetics, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK

    S. Bramald & C. Chapman

  3. Department of Clinical Genetics, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK

    C. Chu

  4. Cancer Research UK, Medical Statistics Group, Oxford, UK

    V. Cornelius & M. Trivella

  5. Department of Clinical Genetics, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK

    F. Douglas

  6. Department of Clinical Genetics, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, UK

    A. Lucassen

  7. Department of Clinical Genetics, Guy's Hospital, London, UK

    A. Nehammer

  8. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, UK

    S. Sutton

  9. Department of Clinical Genetics, St George's Hospital, London, UK

    S. Hodgson

  10. Gynaecology and Oncology Unit, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6GR, UK

    S. Hodgson

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  1. L. Fraser
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  2. S. Bramald
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  3. C. Chapman
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  4. C. Chu
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  5. V. Cornelius
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  7. A. Lucassen
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  11. S. Hodgson
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Fraser, L., Bramald, S., Chapman, C. et al. What motivates interest in attending a familial cancer genetics clinic?. Familial Cancer 2, 159–168 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FAME.0000004621.38109.16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FAME.0000004621.38109.16

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