A cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of family history of colorectal, breast and ovarian cancer in a Scottish general practice population

Wallace, E; Hinds, A; Campbell, H; Mackay, J; Cetnarskyj, R; Porteous, M E M

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey of all patients aged 30-65 in four general practices within one Local Health Care Co-operative in Fife, Scotland was undertaken to measure the prevalence of family history of colorectal, breast and ovarian cancer. A total of 7619 patients aged 30-65 responded to a postal questionnaire (response rate 59%). In all, 17% of respondents (1324, 95% Cl 16-18%) reported a relative affected by colorectal, breast or ovarian cancer. Of those, 6% (78, 95% CI 5-7%) met the Scottish guidelines for referral for genetics counselling. In all, 2% (24, 95% CI 1-3%) of all individuals with an affected relative had received genetic counselling and risk assessment. Of these, 25% (6, 95% CI 8-42%) met the moderate- or high-risk criteria for developing a cancer. In conclusion, the number of patients who are at a significantly increased risk of cancer on the basis of a family history is small (approximately 10 per General Practitioner (GP) list). It is therefore unrealistic to expect GPs to develop expertise in genetic risk estimation. A simple family history chart or pedigree is one way that a GP can, within the constraints of a GP consultation, determine which patients should be reassured and which referred to the local cancer genetic clinic.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 29, 2004
• Online Publication Date: Sep 21, 2004
• Publication Date: 2004-10
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2008
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 12, 2023
• Print ISSN: 0007-0920
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-1827
• Publisher: Cancer Research UK
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 91
• Pages: 1575-1579
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6602155
• Keywords: Cross-sectional; Family cancer history; Genetic risk; Prevalence; GP consultation
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/1581
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6602155