title: An assessment of risk understanding in Hispanic genetic counseling patients.
abstract: This study sought to identify if differences existed in risk comprehension and risk format understanding between genetic counseling patients of Hispanic and Caucasian ethnicity. A total of 107 questionnaires were collected, 56 from Hispanic patients, and 51 from Caucasian controls. Of the total population 41.1% (44/107) could not demonstrate sufficient risk understanding, which was 71.4% (40/56) of Hispanics and 7.8% (4/51) of Caucasians. Fractions were the best-understood format for all participants. However, both Hispanics and Caucasians had difficulties with the percentage risk format. Discrepancies were also noted in qualitative word format understanding. Awareness of differences in risk comprehension may affect the selection of counseling techniques and strategies utilized by genetic counselors when educating patients about risk related information.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Eichmeyer
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Northrup
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Assel
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Goka
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Aimee Tucker
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People