The Angelina effect: immediate reach, grasp, and impact of going public

Background: In May 2013, Angelina Jolie revealed in a New York Times opinion piece that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy because she had a family history of cancer and carried a rare mutation of the B1ZCA1 gene. Media coverage has been extensive, but it is not obviouS what Messages the public took from this personal health story. Methods: Weconductecia survey with a representative national, online panel of 2,572 adults. participants-described their awarenessandiden, tiled information -sources for the Angelina Jolie news story. They also reported their understanding, reactions, perceptions, arid subsequent activities related to-the story. We asked questions pertaining to personal and societal breast cancer risk and hypothetical questions regarding preventive surgery if the respondent or a family member were in the same position as Ms We. Demographic information was collected, as was family rig for breaa and-ovarian cancer, and a gauge clfniiiheracy. Results: While three of four Americans were aware of Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy, fewer than 10% of respondents had the information necessary to accurately interpret Ms Jolie's risk of developing cancer relative to.a Woman, unaffected by the BlZCA gene ' mutation. Awareness of the Angelina Jolie story was not associated-: with improved understanding. ConclusiOn: While celebrities" can bring heightened 'awareness: tO health issues, there is &need for these-Messages to be accompanied by more purposeful- communication: efforts to assist the public in understanding and using the complex -diagnostic and treatment infortnation that these stories convey.