Genetic services for men: the preferences of men with a family history of prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Men have a lower uptake of genetic services than women; however, the specific needs and preferences of men at risk of genetic conditions other than hereditary breast ovarian cancer are not known. We ascertain the information preferences of men with a family history of prostate cancer.


METHODS
Unaffected men and their partners were administered a written questionnaire.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 280 men (response rate: 59.2%) and 174 partners (response rate: 74%). Most men (59.6%) reported having insufficient information about their risk and wanted further information about personal risk (93.2%) and risk management (93.6%). Strikingly, 56.3% preferred to receive information related only to positive outcomes. Urologists were the preferred source of information, but there was considerable interest in a multidisciplinary service approach significantly associated with the number of affected relatives (odds ratio = 1.94, P < .002). Partners' level of concern was not associated with interest in multidisciplinary services, satisfaction with information, or support received.


CONCLUSIONS
Delivering services to men at risk will require a multifaceted approach by primary care providers and specialists. Challenges include meeting men's expectations in the face of uncertain medical knowledge, engaging those at high risk in multidisciplinary services, and delivering tailored information to those at lower risk.
Gaff
Clara L
CL
Genetic Health Services Victoria, Familial Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
Cowan
Ruth
R
Meiser
Bettina
B
Lindeman
Geoffrey
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005192:Family Health; D033142:Genetic Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors