Promoting Men's Adherence to BRCA1/2 Germline Genetic Testing

BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC) increases the relative and absolute risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer and, to a lesser extent, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Men face BRCA-related cancer risks as women do, although with a different magnitude, and they may also transmit the mutations to their children. Notwithstanding, men have not received much attention since now. They are under-tested compared to women and the communication is not tailored on their needs. Research on the psychological determinants of men's informed decision-making is particularly lacking as well as experimental evidence on the efficacy of tailored messages on men's needs. Applying principles of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), the present protocol proposes a study with the aim to test psychological variables influencing men's decision-making. Moreover, the proposed research intends to test the efficacy of two messages through a randomized experimental study. A total of 264 participants will be involved, among the men's relatives of women with verified germline mutations. The study entails a pre- post- evaluation with randomization of the participants in two conditions corresponding to the two messages. The expected results provide answers related to the impact of action self-efficacy, outcome expectancy (personal or familiar), risk perception, health risk aversion, intolerance of uncertainty, perceived barriers, and coping self-efficacy on informed decision-making. Data gathered from this study may inform health care providers, policymakers, and public health managers about the communication strategy for men and about the psychological variables influencing decision-making.