Early detection of ovarian cancer (OC) is critical to management of the disease. While transvaginal sonography (TVS) is the preferred screening modality for OC, concerns have been raised regarding the cost/benefit ratio associated with TVS. While TVS has been shown to facilitate early detection of OC, TVS yields a high proportion of """"""""abnormal"""""""" findings. These findings require additional follow-up in the form of repeat TVS testing or exploratory surgery. While the vast majority of these abnormal findings are ultimately determined to be """"""""false positives,"""""""" the impact of this potentiallly stressful experience upon a woman's cognition, affect, and behavior has not been adequately examined. This study will use a prospective, longitudinal design to examine psychological and behavioral outcomes associated with TVS screening for OC. Three groups of women will be studied: women undergoing an initial TVS test who receive a normal result (n=300), women undergoing an initial TVS test who receive an abnormal result (n=300), and a matched group of healthy women who have never undergone TVS testing (n=300). Assessments will be conducted prior to initial TVS test and at 2 week, and 4, 18, and 30 month followups. Guided by the conceptual framework provided by both the Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing (C-SHIP) and Monitoring Process Models, endpoints to be examined include cognition (e.g., risk perception, perceptions of TVS efficacy, intrusive and avoidant ideation), affect (e.g., depression, mood disturbance), and behavior (adherence to routine follow-up TVS testing).
Research aims i nclude: (1) characterization of women who undergo TVS screening; (2) identification of psychological and behavioral outcomes associated with TVS screening; and (3) identification of clinical, demographic, and psychological variables associated with post-TVS psychological and behavioral outcomes. Regarding the latter aim, hypotheses regarding the relationship between informational coping style (e.g., high monitoring) and post-TVS psychological and behavioral outcomes will be tested. Results will enable development of interventions to enhance psychological and behavioral outcomes after TVS screening for OC.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA084036-01
Application #
6032870
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-2 (01))
Program Officer
Stefanek, Michael E
Project Start
2000-03-01
Project End
2004-02-29
Budget Start
2000-03-01
Budget End
2001-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$152,351
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
832127323
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Andrykowski, Michael A; Pavlik, Edward J (2011) Response to an abnormal ovarian cancer-screening test result: test of the social cognitive processing and cognitive social health information processing models. Psychol Health 26:383-97
Andrykowski, Michael A; Zhang, Mei; Pavlik, Edward J et al. (2007) Factors associated with return for routine annual screening in an ovarian cancer screening program. Gynecol Oncol 104:695-701
Lykins, Emily L B; Pavlik, Edward L; Andrykowski, Michael A (2007) Validity of self-reports of return for routine repeat screening in an ovarian cancer screening program. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 16:490-3
Gaugler, Joseph E; Pavlik, Edward; Salsman, John M et al. (2006) Psychological and behavioral impact of receipt of a ""normal"" ovarian cancer screening test. Prev Med 42:463-70
Andrykowski, Michael A; Boerner, Laura M; Salsman, John M et al. (2004) Psychological response to test results in an ovarian cancer screening program: a prospective, longitudinal study. Health Psychol 23:622-30