Using the Health Belief Model to explore why women decide for or against the removal of their ovaries to reduce their risk of developing cancer

Table 1 Patients’ sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics

Characteristic	Patients (n = 18)
Age in years, mean (SD, range)	57 (15, 59)
18–39	17% (3)
40–59	39% (7)
60 or older	44% (8)
Menopausal status at the time of decision making
Pre menopause	33% (6)
Currently undergoing menopause	6% (1)
Post menopause	61% (11)
Previous cancer diagnosis
Yes	61% (11)
No	39% (7)
Marital status
Married	44% (8)
De facto^a	17% (3)
Divorced or separated	11% (2)
Single	28% (5)
Highest level of education
Secondary school	50% (9)
Vocational	28% (5)
University	22% (4)
Gene mutations
BRCA1	0 (0)
BRCA2	28% (5)
Other (e.g. Lynch Syndrome)	5.6% (1)
None	67% (12)
Oophorectomy
Yes	61% (11)
No	39% (7)

^aAccording to the Australian Department for Home Affairs a de facto partner relationship exists if all of the following applies: i) the partners are not legally married to each other; ii) they are committed to a shared life to the exclusion of all others; iii) their relationship is genuine and continuing; iv) they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis; v) they are not related by family [68]

ISSN: 1472-6874