Decision making with uncertain information: learning from women in a high risk breast cancer clinic.

摘要: Patients and practitioners may believe that clinically validated laboratory tests provide definitive information. Genetic counselors know this is not always so, the possibility of inconclusive genetic test results often discussed in pretest counseling session. This added discussion topic prolongs process counseling, but if there inadequate patient understanding, frustration be high when receiving a result uncertain significance, patients make decisions about subsequent medical management based on incorrect assumptions. For patients/participants research setting, where clinical validity testing unclear, some still want to use influence their management. paper presents findings from qualitative study wherein 15 women High Risk Breast Cancer Clinic at Utah's Huntsman Institute how uncertainty regarding affected decision making. The were randomly selected 3 categories—women with significance; without cancer who have mutation; are members high-risk families, for whom no mutation was found. Study will used future studies better understand improve communication results, especially environment.