Perceived disadvantages and concerns about abuses of genetic testing for cancer risk: differences across African American, Latina and Caucasian women.
Participation in genetic testing for cancer risk is low among women of medically underserved ethnic groups and this is due, in part, to genetic testing attitudes, specifically perceived disadvantages of genetic testing and concerns about possible abuses of genetic testing. The goals of the current study were to: (a) explore genetic testing attitudes, and (b) determine the extent to which ethnicity, awareness of genetic testing, and medical mistrust are associated with genetic testing attitudes. African American, Latina, and Caucasian women (N=273) completed an interview assessing sociodemographic information, genetic testing awareness, medical mistrust, and genetic testing attitudes. Latina participants more strongly agreed with disadvantages of testing than the other ethnic groups. Both Latina and African American women more strongly concurred with concerns about testing abuses compared to Caucasian women. In hierarchical linear regression analyses, Spanish language preference and medical mistrust were the only significant predictors of perceived disadvantages and medical mistrust was the only significant predictor of abuse concerns. These findings support the importance of identifying genetic testing attitudes that may be culturally specific in order to promote culturally competent care by genetic risk professionals.
Thompson
Hayley S
HS
Ruttenberg Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave Levy Place Box 1130, New York, NY 10029, USA. hayley.thompson@mssm.edu
Valdimarsdottir
Heiddis B
HB
Jandorf
Lina
L
Redd
William
W
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000592:standards*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009519:New York City; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*