Awareness and use of direct-to-consumer nutrigenomic tests, United States, 2006.
OBJECTIVE
Direct-to-consumer genetic tests are increasingly available and may improve confidentiality, convenience, and accessibility. Amid ethical concerns and an uncertain regulatory landscape, the future of this mode of delivery is unclear. One class of products, nutrigenomic tests, is used to analyze DNA and lifestyle habits to assess health risks. Little information is available regarding awareness or use of such tests among consumers or physicians.


METHODS
We assessed consumers' awareness and use of nutrigenomic tests in the 2006 HealthStyles national survey (5250 respondents) and awareness among physicians in the 2006 DocStyles national survey (1250 respondents).


RESULTS
In the HealthStyles survey, 14% of respondents were aware of nutrigenomic tests, and 0.6% overall had used these tests. Respondents who were aware of nutrigenomic tests tended to be young and educated with a high income. Many physicians (44%) were aware of nutrigenomic tests, although 41% of these physicians had never had a patient ask about such tests, and most (74%) had never discussed the results of a nutrigenomic test with a patient.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide insight into current trends in public demand and interest in nutrigenomic tests and will aid in assessing the impact of policies, efforts at public or provider education, and the evolution of the availability and demand for such tests.
Goddard
Katrina A B
KA
National Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
Moore
Cynthia
C
Ottman
Denae
D
Szegda
Kathleen L
KL
Bradley
Linda
L
Khoury
Muin J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000941:ethics; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054647:Nutrigenomics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010820:Physicians; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic