Women's perceptions of PERSPECTIVE: a breast cancer risk stratification e-platform

Saima Ahmed; Emmanuelle Lévesque; Rosalind Garland; Bartha Knoppers; Michel Dorval; Jacques Simard; Carmen G Loiselle

doi:10.1186/s13053-022-00214-4

Women's perceptions of PERSPECTIVE: a breast cancer risk stratification e-platform

Hered Cancer Clin Pract. 2022 Feb 24;20(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s13053-022-00214-4.

Authors

Saima Ahmed^{1

2}, Emmanuelle Lévesque³, Rosalind Garland⁴, Bartha Knoppers³, Michel Dorval^{5

6}, Jacques Simard^{5

6}, Carmen G Loiselle^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
² CIUSSS Centre-Ouest Montréal, Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
³ McGill University Centre of Genomics and Policy, Montréal, QC, Canada.
⁴ Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁵ Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
⁶ CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Québec City, QC, Canada.
⁷ CIUSSS Centre-Ouest Montréal, Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada. carmen.g.loiselle@mcgill.ca.
⁸ Department of Oncology and Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 680 Sherbrooke Ouest, Office 1812, Montréal, QC, H3A 2M7, Canada. carmen.g.loiselle@mcgill.ca.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer risk stratification categorizes a woman's potential risk of developing the disease as near-population, intermediate, or high. In accordance, screening and follow up for breast cancer can readily be tailored following risk assessment. Recent efforts have focussed on developing more accessible means to convey this information to women. This study sought to document the relevance of an informational e-platform developed for these purposes.

Objective: To begin to assess a newly developed breast cancer risk stratification and decision support e-platform called PERSPECTIVE (PErsonalised Risk Stratification for Prevention and Early deteCTIon of breast cancer) among women who do not know their personal breast cancer risk (Phase 1). Changes (pre- and post- e-platform exposure) in knowledge of breast cancer risk and interest in undergoing genetic testing were assessed in addition to perceptions of platform usability and acceptability.

Methods: Using a pre-post design, women (N = 156) of differing literacy and education levels, aged 30 to 60, with no previous breast cancer diagnosis were recruited from the general population and completed self-report e-questionnaires.

Results: Mean e-platform viewing time was 18.67 min (SD 0.65) with the most frequently visited pages being breast cancer-related risk factors and risk assessment. Post-exposure, participants reported significantly higher breast cancer-related knowledge (p < .001). Increases in knowledge relating to obesity, alcohol, breast density, menstruation, and the risk estimation process remained even when sociodemographic variables age and education were controlled. There were no significant changes in genetic testing interest post-exposure. Mean ratings for e-platform acceptability and usability were high: 26.19 out of 30 (SD 0.157) and 42.85 out of 50 (SD 0.267), respectively.

Conclusions: An informative breast cancer risk stratification e-platform targeting healthy women in the general population can significantly increase knowledge as well as support decisions around breast cancer risk and assessment. Currently underway, Phase 2, called PERSPECTIVE, is seeking further content integration and broader implementation .

Keywords: Breast cancer; cancer prevention and screening; cancer risk stratification; e-health.

Abstract

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