Publications by authors named "Cristina Vigna"
: Women undergoing genetic counseling for hereditary breast cancer often experience a high emotional burden. Distress and stress in the initial phases of genetic counseling can be significant predictors of long-term psychological health, influencing quality of life and well-being. : This study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of psychophysical stress in the relationship of anxiety and depression with quality of life and well-being in women undergoing genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 mutations.
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- Limited research has focused on how family cancer history and emotional factors like depression and anxiety impact individuals' perceptions of cancer risk and worries, prompting this study to investigate these relationships in women undergoing genetic counseling for breast/ovarian cancer.
- The study surveyed 178 women, 52% of whom had existing cancer diagnoses, assessing their emotional distress, cancer-related worries, risk perception, and fears related to healthcare.
- Results indicated that higher levels of depression and anxiety correlated with increased cancer-related worries and risk perception, with healthcare-related fears acting as a mediator; it was also found that a prior cancer diagnosis raised cancer worries but not risk perception, while having more family members with cancer influenced both outcomes.
Background: The Cancer Worry Scale was revised to be used in breast cancer genetic counseling (CWS-GC). This scale is used to identify dimensions that are relevant in the genetic counseling context, such as worry about developing breast cancer, impact of worries on daily life, and risk perception in women attending a counseling session for BRCA1/2 mutations.
Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the psychometric properties of the CWS-GC in a sample of Italian women.
Background: The phenomenon of Burnout is an important occupational problem which affects those working in the "helping professions" to a greater degree since they have continuous and constant contact with suffering patients.
Aims: We aimed to assess the Burnout level and its correlation with organizational stressors.
Methods: The aim was achieved through administration of a questionnaire, the organizational check-up survey (OCS) among 80 physicians and 102 nurses working in a cancer institute.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to identify factors influencing early withdrawal from oncogenetic counseling by comparing the psychological and personality traits of participants who completed counseling versus those who dropped out.
- Analysis of self-report questionnaires from 112 attendees and 56 withdrawers revealed that those with fewer children, fewer cancer-affected relatives, and lower hypomanic scores were more likely to withdraw from counseling.
- The findings suggest that patients need to recognize the importance of their own cancer risk management and that those lacking psychological energy may benefit from increased support throughout the counseling process.
Subjective versus objective risk in genetic counseling for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res
December 2009
Background: Despite the fact that genetic counseling in oncology provides information regarding objective risks, it can be found a contrast between the subjective and objective risk. The aims of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of the perceived risk compared to the objective risk estimated by the BRCApro computer model and to evaluate any associations between medical, demographic and psychological variables and the accuracy of risk perception.
Methods: 130 subjects were given medical-demographic file, Cancer and Genetic Risk Perception, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale.
Article Synopsis
- Oncogenetic counselling is often skipped by eligible individuals due to factors like risk perception, emotional distress, and lack of family support.
- A study conducted in Italy surveyed 106 individuals who sought initial genetic counselling but didn't pursue follow-ups, revealing issues like emotional cohesion within families and a correlation between anxiety and perceived risk.
- The main reasons for skipping counselling included viewing genetic testing as futile and struggling with the potential negative outcomes, highlighting the need for better family support and clearer communication about the benefits of early diagnosis.