title: Genetic counseling and testing for breast cancer risk in African Americans.
abstract: Genetic testing for susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1/2 testing) has been available in clinical settings since 1996. Increasingly, such testing is helping women at increased risk make decisions about breast cancer screening and prevention. African American women have participated in genetic counseling and testing programs less than white women, despite greater rates of early onset disease and higher breast cancer mortality. The barriers and motivations for genetic testing among African American women are not well understood. This Issue Brief summarizes a series of studies that systematically explore African American women's beliefs and intentions about BRCA1/2 testing. The findings have been used to tailor genetic counseling programs to better serve this population.
authors.affiliation: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Chanita Hughes
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Halbert
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers