J Breast Cancer.  2010 Dec;13(4):418-430. 10.4048/jbc.2010.13.4.418.

The Change of Practice Patterns of the Hereditary Breast Cancer Management in Korea after the Korean Hereditary Breast Cancer Study

• Kang E
• Ahn SH
• Noh WC
• Noh DY
• Jung Y
• Kim LS
• Choi DH
• Suh YJ
• Kim KS
• Lee JE
• Lee MH
• Nam SJ
• Moon BI
• Son BH
• Yang JH
• Yom CK
• Kim SY
• Park SK
• Kim SW
• Korean Breast Cancer Society

• KMID: 2286531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2010.13.4.418

Abstract

PURPOSE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the change in the practice patterns for managing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) among Korean physicians after the Korean Hereditary Breast Cancer (KOHBRA) study.
METHODS
The first survey was performed from July to August 2007, at the initiation of the KOHBRA study, and the follow-up survey was conducted from July to December 2009. Members of the Korean Breast Cancer Society were invited to participate in the study by e-mail. The 2009 survey was conducted with a self-administered questionnaire concerning HBOC management and was identical to the previous questionnaire.
RESULTS
According to the 2009 survey, most physicians (60.0%) tended to draw a pedigree (48.0% in 2007 survey). The rate of genetic test recommendations for patients at risk for HBOC was higher in the 2009 survey (84.0%) than that in the 2007 survey (64.0%). Physicians tended to select a BRCA genetic testing candidate more appropriately than in the previous survey (42.4% answered right in 2007 survey; 74.4% in 2009 survey). Fifteen of 25 participants (60.0%) provided genetic counseling before their patients underwent a genetic test, which was higher than that (40.0%) in the 2007 survey. According to the 2009 survey, half of the genetic counseling was being conducted by KOHBRA study research nurses; whereas most of the genetic counseling was conducted by physicians in 2007.
CONCLUSION
The KOHBRA study has played an important role in the appropriate selection of candidates for genetic testing. However, more effort should be placed on improving the pre-test genetic counseling rate.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Clinical practice patterns; Hereditary neoplastic syndromes

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Electronic Mail
Follow-Up Studies
Genetic Counseling
Genetic Testing
Humans
Korea
Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary
Ovarian Neoplasms
Pedigree
Physician's Practice Patterns
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 The change of practice patterns related to genetic screening (n=25). The rates of pedigree drawing, genetic test availability, and genetic test recommendation for patients at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer increased in 2009.

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