title: Knowledge, attitudes, and utilization of BRCA1/2 testing among women with early-onset breast cancer.
abstract: A total of 2,400 questionnaires were mailed to members of two mid-Atlantic breast cancer awareness/support groups to investigate the association between attitudes, knowledge, and use of BRCA1/2 testing among women with early-onset breast cancer. Of the 493 (21%) questionnaires returned, 406 respondents had a diagnosis of breast cancer, of whom 248 were diagnosed prior to age 50 and included in the analyses. Eighty-three percent (206/248) of these women had heard of BRCA1/2 testing and 12.5% (31/248) had undergone BRCA1/2 testing. Among women who had heard of BRCA1/2 testing, women who had been tested were younger (p = 0.03), more likely to have a college education (p = 0.03), more likely to have a family member who had undergone BRCA1/2 testing (p = 0.005), and had greater knowledge, more positive attitudes, and fewer negative attitudes about BRCA1/2 testing (p = 0.02, p = 0.004, and p = 0.004, respectively). In this sample, knowledge regarding BRCA1/2 testing is high, but uptake of genetic testing is low. Lack of information regarding how genetic testing might alter health-care decisions and fear about the genetic testing procedure, its costs, and possible false-positive results are associated with low uptake of genetic testing. Further education regarding these specific points may enhance the use of genetic testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Domchek
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Domcheck
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polis
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stopfer
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires