title: Genetic testing for susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer: evaluating the impact of a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign on physicians' knowledge and practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of direct-to-consumer marketing of genetic testing for risk of breast and ovarian cancer by a biotechnology company on: 1) physicians' knowledge; 2) reasons given when asking questions about the test; and 3) physicians' practice patterns in two pilot cities where the campaign took place and two control cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of randomly selected family physicians, internists, obstetrician-gynecologists, and oncologists from May 1-May 21, 2003.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physicians' knowledge did not differ between pilot and control cities. Significant differences (pilot versus control cities) were seen in the reasons patients gave for asking questions about testing. More physicians in pilot cities (14%) than control cities (7%) reported an increase in the number of times they ordered genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk in the previous 6 months (adjusted odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.1). Awareness of professional guidelines and being in a practice with a policy on genetic testing for risk of breast and ovarian cancer were associated with physicians' behaviors and interest among patients in testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the complexity and limitations of genetic testing for risk of breast and ovarian cancer, the development and broad dissemination of clinical guidelines and education of physicians are needed.
authors.affiliation: Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Man-Huei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Whitworth
authors.forename: Sidibe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Litch
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: W Andrew
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Faucett
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mouchawar
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D019981:Health Care Sector; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D010820:Physicians; D010821:Physicians, Family; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires