Improving Breast Cancer Modifiable Risk Factor Knowledge Among Patients in a High Risk Breast Cancer Prevention Clinic in the Midwest

Preventative health care is the best choice in moving forward to reduce disease incidence. In the case of breast cancer, prevention clinics have been set up for those who have been determined as a high risk status for developing breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. There are many risk factors for breast cancer that are out of the patient’s control, but there are lifestyle health behaviors that could be implemented to lower the patient’s risk. The potential impact of these can not only lower the incidence of breast cancer, but can be linked with reduction of other disease development and help decrease the health care associated costs. Once a patient fully understands the impact that their lifestyle can have over their risk status, they can make an informed decision on whether or not the modifiable risk factors are worth implementing for them. This project measured the knowledge of breast cancer lifestyle prevention strategies among patients in a Midwest Cancer Center and evaluated how the addition of an educational intervention video on risk factors impacted the patient’s understanding. The quantitative study design analyzed pre- and post-survey participant knowledge assessment data to find that the use of the educational intervention was effective in increasing patient understanding. This project can bring awareness to all healthcare team members on the benefits of focusing on preventative healthcare, importance of checking for patient understanding on education provided to them and offering alternative avenues to increase patient knowledge.