ATTITUDES TOWARD RISK FACTOR BEHAVIOR OF RELATIVES OF CANCER-PATIENTS

Background. Targeted health promotion requires an identifiable subpopu lation which is accessible, at increased risk, receptive to input, and receptive to change. Relatives of recently diagnosed cancer patients may meet these criteria and have not previously been investigated as r ecipients of preventive education regarding smoking and diet. Methods. This study investigates these factors, beliefs regarding perceived su sceptibility to cancer, and attitudes toward behavior change in 101 re latives of 50 patients with smoking-related cancers, breast cancer, an d other diet-related cancers. Congruence of attitudes between patients and relatives, another possible factor in changing health behaviors, also was assessed. Results. Access to relatives of patients was very h igh, as was their willingness to discuss these issues (99% of relative s contacted participated in the survey). Relatives' ratings of relevan t risk factors were generally higher than those of patients; ratings o f their own vulnerability were moderate. Within diagnostic groups, the re was high concordance of belief between patients and relatives for c ertain types of risk, such as heredity for breast cancer (r = 0.81) an d smoking for smoking-related cancers (r = 0.52), but not for dietary factors. Conclusions. The high level of access suggests that relatives may be receptive to discussing issues of behavior risk, and change. T hey are at least as aware as patients of cancer risk factors. Spontane ous behavior change was very low. They may therefore be good candidate s for targeted health promotion regarding cancer risk. (C) 1996 Academ ic Press, Inc.