Sun C, Bodurka D, Weaver C, Andersen R, Gershenson DM, Bast RC; AcademyHealth. Meeting (2003 : Nashville, Tenn.).
Abstr AcademyHealth Meet. 2003; 20: abstract no. 599.
University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Gynecologic Oncology, Box 440, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 Tel. (713) 745-4380 Fax (713) 792-7586
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To describe the knowledge of ovarian cancer screening of women at low-risk for developing ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: This study is descriptive in nature. Participants were asked if they would participate in a feasibility study for ovarian cancer screening. Women were given written questionnaires to complete either in the clinic or to mail back at a later date. POPULATION STUDIED: Post-menopausal women considered to be at low-risk (actual lifetime risk=1.4%) for developing ovarian cancer presenting to our institution's cancer screening clinic. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To date, 105 women with no prior diagnosis of cancer have completed surveys. Mean age was 60.1 yrs (median 57.5). Women estimated that their personal chance of developing ovarian cancer during their lifetime was 26.05% (median=25%). 75.2% of women indicated that they thought their chance of developing ovarian cancer was about the same or lower than other women their age. 57% of the study population was somewhat or not at all certain about their response to this question. When asked what chance an average woman had of developing ovarian cancer during her lifetime, 8.6% (n=9) responded 50%-74%; 31.4% (n=33) responded 25%-49%; and 21.9% (n=23) responded 10%-24%. 62% of women (n=65) stated that they had some, a fair bit or a lot of knowledge concerning ovarian cancer. Half (49.5%) of the study population received this information via TV, newspapers and/or magazines, and 20% (n=20) received their information from a healthcare worker. 74.3% (n=78) of women stated that the CA 125 blood test was effective in detecting ovarian cancer at a curable stage while 72.3% believed that a transvaginal ultrasound was effective in detecting ovarian cancer at a curable stage. 76% of women believed that when detected early, ovarian cancer was curable. 79% of women believed that the benefits of screening outweighed the difficulties. 81% (n=85) of women disagreed with the notion that ovarian cancer screening was too time-consuming. 66% (n=79) indicated that insurance refusal to cover CA 125 and transvaginal ultrasound would not deter them from pursuing screening. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of women in our study were willing to undergo and pay for screening tests that have not yet been proven to be clinically beneficial or cost-effective in a low-risk population. Charges for CA 125 and transvaginal ultrasound at our institution are $116 and $488, respectively. 90% of women over-estimated their lifetime chance for developing ovarian cancer. Additionally, women are willing to accept the risk of false-positive results that may require surgical intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, DELIVERY OR PRACTICE: Significant misconceptions exist regarding the diagnosis and screening for ovarian cancer among women at low-risk. Despite the questionable effectiveness of screening in a general population, some women may wish to pay for screening these tests. Willingness-to-pay studies should be conducted to further study this issue.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- CA-125 Antigen
- Female
- Humans
- Knowledge
- Mass Screening
- Neoplasm Staging
- Ovarian Neoplasms
- Questionnaires
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Management
- economics
- immunology
- hsrmtgs
Other ID:
UI: 102275570
From Meeting Abstracts