Perception and Counseling for Cardiac Health in Breast Cancer Survivors Using the Health Belief Model: Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Breast cancer survivors (BCS) exhibit elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared to the general population.
• CVD is the leading cause of mortality among BCS, influenced by cancer treatments and shared risk factors.
• Enhanced screening and management strategies are essential for BCS survivorship care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current cardiovascular risk counseling practices for BCS.
• To assess BCS's perception of their own cardiovascular risk.
• To identify barriers and preferences for cardiovascular risk reduction among BCS.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews were conducted with 19 BCS at an academic family medicine center.
• The Health Belief Model guided the interview focus on risk behaviors, perception, and reduction barriers.
• Data analysis included frequency counts, means, standard deviations, and template analysis for qualitative insights.

Main Results:

• 90% of BCS reported personal or family history of CVD; only 53% received prior CVD counseling.
• 32% perceived increased CVD risk, while 47% were uncertain; risk perception was influenced by family history, cancer treatments, and lifestyle.
• BCS preferred video (79%) and SMS messaging (68%) for information; barriers included time, resources, physical limitations, and survivorship-specific concerns.

Conclusions:

• BCS recognize that cancer diagnosis and treatment significantly impact their CVD risk and create barriers to risk reduction.
• Video and messaging platforms show promise for improving CVD risk counseling and awareness in BCS.
• Future risk reduction strategies must address the unique challenges faced by BCS during survivorship.