Abstract
Racial disparities in breast cancer mortality continue, partly due to higher prevalence of an aggressive breast cancer subtype called basal-like breast cancer (BBC) in African-Americans. Health care providers (HCPs) are uniquely positioned to discuss cancer risk and prevention with patients. We investigated breast cancer knowledge and risk communication among HCPs to identify factors that influenced communication with patients. Interviews were conducted with 34 HCPs in North Carolina. We found limited evidence of breast cancer risk education, and specific subtypes of breast cancer were not discussed. Barriers to communication about prevention include limited time, perceived patient receptivity and education level, and scientific misinformation. Factors that prompted discussions included patient characteristics (age, race, and socioeconomic status). To broaden the conversation, HCPs must receive and communicate more accurate information on breast cancer risk. Given these barriers to breast cancer education, additional opportunities to intervene with high-risk populations must be identified.