Baseline characteristics and psychosocial profile of Hong Kong Chinese females eligible of undertaking genetic counselling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (hboc) can facilitate more precise risk estimations, can guide surveillance regimes and prophylactic procedures, and has become the standard of care in most developed countries. The present study focused on studying the baseline characteristics and psychosocial profile of at-risk individuals undertaking genetic counselling and testing for hboc among Southern Chinese females residing in Hong Kong. METHODS: Hong Kong Chinese females who met the selection criterion were offered free genetic counselling and testing service sponsored by The Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry. They were surveyed in a face-to-face interview at a multidisciplinary breast clinic before they received pre-testing genetic counselling consultation. Sociodemographic information, medical history, pre-testing knowledge on hboc, coping style, and mood were also obtained. RESULTS: The study recruited 142 females (88.7% with cancer history). Better pre-testing baseline knowledge on HBOC was significantly associated with higher education level (p < 0.001) and younger age (p < 0.001). Cancer survivors were more resourceful in coping when facing adversities in life (p < 0.05). A minority of participants (9.9%) showed considerable level of depressive mood even at the pre-testing stage (all of them with cancer history). However, cancer survivors anticipated greater positive changes and posttraumatic growth if they proved to be mutation-carriers (p < 0.05) and more likely to believe that a negative result will bring relief (p < 0.05) if to be compared with those without cancer history. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that high-risk Hong Kong Chinese females with cancer history, higher education level, and younger age were more receptive to breast cancer risk assessment. Although enduring a relatively higher level of distress if to be compared with their non-cancer counterparts, cancer survivors appeared to be more resourceful in coping methods when facing life adversities and their self-perceived resilience was higher in terms of facing a possible positive genetic testing result.