Fewer than half of health care staff at breast clinics are aware of the link between breast cancer and alcohol, researchers have found.
The research also found that fewer than one in five patients knew about the breast cancer risk from alcohol.
Professor Julia Sinclair at the University of Southampton, UK, and her team investigated knowledge about this risk factor as it is one of the most important potentially modifiable risk factors.
They write in BMJ Open that: “Breast screening and symptomatic clinical attendances provide opportunities (‘teachable moments’) to link health promotion and breast cancer-prevention advice.”
The team carried out a survey of 205 women patients and 33 NHS staff, as well as a series of five focus groups with patients, and eight interviews with staff.
This showed that 19.5% of patients identified alcohol as a breast cancer risk factor, and 48.5% of staff.
When asked about their alcohol intake, 66.5% of patients drank alcohol, and 56.6% were unable to correctly guess the alcohol content of popular alcoholic drinks.
The idea of including a prevention-focussed intervention in their care pathway was considered acceptable by all of the women. Staff voiced concerns about discussing the subject in a non-stigmatising way, and some were unsure about their role in health promotion.
The authors conclude that their work “highlights the potential for using these opportunities as ‘teachable moments’”, but they add that “there are substantial cultural and systemic challenges to overcome if this is to be implemented successfully.”
Sinclair, J. et al. The acceptability of addressing alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer: a mixed method study within breast screening services and symptomatic breast clinics. BMJ Open 19 June 2019; doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027371
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027371
Leave a Reply