[Personality traits of women participating in a breast cancer prevention trial]

Epidemiol Prev. 2002 Mar-Apr;26(2):82-6.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

We have evaluated the psycho-social factors in women--during menopause with different biological characteristics--who participated in two extensive trials of breast cancer prevention: Diana1 and Tamoxifen. Through the use of a recognized personality test (MMPI, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), we observed 500 healthy women who agreed to or refused the health care proposal. The findings show that the women who accept chemical preparations or to modify their dietary habits present different personality traits from those who refuse to adhere. One should ask oneself if the lack of homogeneity of the samples with a different concentration of psycho-social factors can alter the efficacy of a cancer prevention program. During chemoprevention studies, in which a high compliance could bring about a redundancy of experience of sickness, in coherence with our goal of health protection, we think it is necessary to supply psycho-social support which tempers any experience of physical, psychological and inter-personal discomfort in the healthy women. The cognitive model of the personality traits could be programmed also for the compliance of mammographical screening. This model requires the training of health care professionals.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / psychology*
  • Diet
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / classification
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Proteins / classification
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isoflavones*
  • MMPI*
  • Menopause / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Patient Compliance / psychology*
  • Personality*
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Plant Preparations
  • Postmenopause / psychology
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / therapeutic use
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal
  • Isoflavones
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Plant Preparations
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Tamoxifen