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

摘要

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.