Raising concerns about family history of breast cancer in primary care consultations: prospective, population based study
BMJ 2001; 322 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7277.27 (Published 06 January 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;322:27
- Women's Concerns Study Group (alk25@medschl.cam.ac.uk)
- Correspondence to: Ann Louise Kinmonth, General Practice and Primary Care Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 2SR
- Accepted 18 September 2000
Following the availability of genetic tests for the genes for breast cancer BRCA1 and 2, genetic centres have reported increasing referral, often of women who are at low risk of breast cancer but who are concerned about their chances of inheriting it, and they have called for better management in primary care.1 To inform appropriate management strategies we counted consultations in primary care in which a family history of breast cancer was mentioned. We obtained ethical approval from the Cambridge local research ethics committee.
Population, method, and results
Nineteen of the 36 partnerships with four or more partners in one health authority were recruited by letter and visit (mean list size 8904 (SD 2231); 74% training practices). A total of 240 clinicians participated: 152 doctors and 88 nurses, including locums and those working part time.
Each practice collected data over four weeks between August 1997 and July 1998. After all consultations with women aged 16 or older, clinicians recorded the patient's reference number, birth date, mention of a family history of breast cancer or other cancers, breast symptoms, risk of breast cancer, and who first mentioned any of these topics. Consultation data were …