Awareness of genetic testing for increased cancer risk in the year 2000 National Health Interview Survey.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores factors associated with differential awareness of genetic tests for increased cancer risk in the US.


METHODS
27,405 respondents from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey, ages 25+, were asked if they had heard of these tests.


RESULTS
44.4% said 'yes', including 49.9% of whites, 32.9% of African-Americans, 32.3% of American Indians/Alaskan Natives, 28.0% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 20.6% of Hispanics. In multivariate analysis, test awareness was significantly associated with higher education, white race, age <60 years, female gender, private health insurance, personal or parent's history of certain cancers, physical activity, and vitamin/supplement use, among other factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey showed which population subgroups may lack access to cancer genetics information and may therefore benefit from targeted strategies to ensure risk-appropriate utilization of genetic counseling and testing.
Wideroff
Louise
L
National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA. wideroff@nih.gov
Vadaparampil
Susan Thomas
ST
Breen
Nancy
N
Croyle
Robert T
RT
Freedman
Andrew N
AN
D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States