title: Association between temporal orientation and attitudes about BRCA1/2 testing among women of African descent with family histories of breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have identified specific attitudes (pros and cons) about BRCA testing held by women of African descent that are associated with decisions to participate in testing. These testing attitudes may be determined, in part, by temporal orientation, or how one perceives the significance of events and the consequences of their actions in terms of past, present, and future. The current study explored the relationship between temporal orientation and pros and cons of BRCA testing among 140 women of African descent with a family history suggestive of a genetic mutation predisposing to breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed measures of temporal orientation and genetic testing attitudes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses indicated that future orientation was positively associated with perceived pros of testing. Additional analyses revealed significant associations between temporal orientation and specific item subsets related to the negative and positive impact of testing on family and personal control over one's health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support an association between temporal orientation and attitudes about BRCA testing among women of African descent with family histories of breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support exploration of temporal orientation in future research on BRCA testing decisions among women of African descent and this construct's importance in developing decision aids and tailoring genetic counseling.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. tiffany.edwards@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Tiffany A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Hayley S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Naa Oyo A
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Kwate
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapil-Pair
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jandorf
authors.forename: Dana H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bovbjerg
authors.forename: Heiddis B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Valdimarsdottir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009518:New York; D009949:Orientation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*