title: Intention to communicate BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic test results to the family.
abstract: Guided by the theory of planned behavior, this analysis explores the communication skills of women who had genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2. The key outcome was intention to tell test results to adult first-degree relatives. The theory predicts that global and specific attitudes, global and specific perceived social norms, and perceived control will influence the communication of genetic test results. A logistic regression model revealed that global attitude (p < .05), specific social influence (p < .01), and perceived control (p < .05) were significant predictors of intention to tell. When gender and generation of relatives were added to the regression, participants were more likely to convey genetic test results to female than to male relatives (p < .05) and were also more likely to communicate test results to children (p < .01) or siblings (p < .05) than to parents. However, this association depended on knowing the relative's opinion of genetic testing. Intention to tell was lowest among participants who did not know their relative's opinion. These results extend the theory of planned behavior by showing that gender and generation influence intention when the relative's opinion is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barsevick
authors.forename: Susan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Egleston
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bingler
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malick
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Terrence P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Cescon
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Daly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D030881:Disclosure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008875:Middle Aged