Exploring the provision of alcohol advice by clinicians to breast cancer patients

Abstract

Funding informationThis research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.Interactions between clinicians and patients along the cancer trajectory provide an opportunity to deliver key messages regarding drinking behaviours and long-term health.This study aimed to explore the extent and nature of clinician-patient discussions regarding alcohol intake and cancer outcomes in the clinical breast cancer setting, using a qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 27 breast cancer clinicians (eight dietitians, nine breast care nurses, 10 oncologists) across Victoria, Australia. Interview data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a content analysis approach. Clinicians' knowledge of national alcohol recommendations was found to be inconsistent. Clinicians reported a lack of patient awareness of the link between alcohol and breast cancer. Current frameworks for assessing and advising on patient alcohol intake were felt to be impractical. The extent and nature of advice provided about alcohol was influenced by several patient and clinician factors. The provision of alcohol advice in the clinical breast cancer setting is not practiced systematically by any professional group. New approaches are needed to support patient education about alcohol intake and survivorship in the clinical oncology setting. K E Y W O R D Salcohol, breast cancer, health professionals, lifestyle advice, survivorship

Risky alcohol consumption among women in Australia attending breast screening services: an exploratory cross‐sectional study

“…While the cross-sectional nature of these data preclude the temporal ordering of breast cancer diagnosis and alcohol consumption levels, these results are consistent with previous research showing that some women continue to drink at risky levels or even increase their consumption after a breast cancer diagnosis [26]. Further, it has been found that health information about the alcohol-breast cancer link is not systematically provided to women receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer, with many completing treatment without any discussion of alcohol as a modifiable breast cancer risk factor [27]. Taken together, these findings make a case for providing tailored (discrete and nonstigmatizing) alcohol information to women who receive a breast cancer diagnosis, and women receiving breast cancer treatment, surveillance and supportive care.…”

Alcohol use and breast cancer risk: A qualitative study of women’s perspectives to inform the development of a preventative intervention in breast clinics

“…There has been some exploration of the provision of alcohol advice to patients following a diagnosis of cancer (Simapivapan, Hodge, & Boltong, 2018;Williams, Beeken, Fisher, & Wardle, 2015). However, as prevention is the most cost-effective long-term strategy for cancer control, there is a need to educate and empower individuals prior to diagnosis, to make informed lifestyle choices to moderate their cancer risk (World Health Organisation, 2014).…”