Levels of Distress in Women With a Family History of Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

The overall goal of this study is to determine the levels of distress in women with a family history of ovarian cancer and to identify the mediating factors between risk of developing ovarian cancer and distress. The proposed study will use 180 first-degree relatives (FDR) of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in a cross-sectional design. Information the ovarian cancer index case provides will be used to identify maternal relatives (mothers, sisters, or daughters). Women will be queried about their objective and subjective risk status, their knowledge of ovarian cancer and risk factors, their uncertainty about ovarian cancer, levels of anxiety and depression, their personality traits of mastery, tolerance for ambiguity, and optimism, and their interest in genetic testing. With the results generated by this study, specific interventions can be designed and tested to improve adjustment of women at high risk for ovarian cancer. This study has not begun but is anticipating a start date of April 05, 2002, once the IRB gives its approval. We are proposing a stepped-up recruitment, which includes contacting not only index cases who come to the clinic but the cancer registry and cancer support programs lists. Our goal is to recruit 180 first-degree relatives of women with ovarian cancer by October 2003.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA403356

Entities

People

  • Kathryn M. Kash

Organizations

  • Beth Israel Medical Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ambiguity
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Depression
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Genetic Testing
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Medical Personnel
  • Neoplasms
  • New York
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Personality
  • Physicians
  • Risk Factors
  • Therapy

Readers

  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.
  • Women's Health and Cancer Risk Research: African American Women and Pregnancy Outcomes.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology