A Cochrane review included 8 studies with a total of 1973 subjects that assessed the impact of cancer genetic risk assessment on outcomes including perceived risk, and psychological distress. This review suggests that cancer genetic risk assessment services help to reduce distress, improve the accuracy of the perceived risk of, and increase knowledge about, breast cancer and genetics. The health professional delivering the risk assessment does not appear to have a significant impact on these outcomes.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency of results; heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes.