Prevalence and correlates of mothers and fathers attending pretest cancer genetic counseling together.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of fathers' attendance at pretest cancer genetic counseling sessions with mothers undergoing BRCA1/2 genetic testing for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) risk, and to identify psychosocial and other correlates of fathers' attendance.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-one fathers of minor-age children who were spouses/partners of women (mothers) undergoing such counseling and testing were recruited, completed a behavioral self-report survey, and provided data about their sociodemographic backgrounds, father-child cancer communication histories, parenting relationship quality, and information-seeking and perceived knowledge.


RESULTS
A total of 27.3% of fathers attended pretest cancer genetic counseling with mothers. Compared to fathers who did not attend pretest cancer genetic counseling, those who did had stronger parenting alliances with mothers, were more likely to have sought out information about BRCA1/2 testing, and felt more informed about testing. In an adjusted logistic regression model of session attendance, the strength of the parenting alliance was associated with a 6% increase in the likelihood of attending genetic counseling (odds ratio [OR]=1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01, 1.12, p<.05) and greater perceived knowledge about BRCA1/2 testing was associated with a four-fold increase in the likelihood of session attendance (OR=4.03, CI=1.77, 9.37, p<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
One in three fathers attend pretest cancer genetic counseling with mothers undergoing BRCA1/2 testing; those who do have closer parenting relationships and are more informed about BRCA1/2 testing.


CONCLUSIONS
When possible, providers should discuss mothers including fathers in cancer genetic counseling sessions as this may affect outcomes of HBOC genetic counseling and testing.
Demarco
Tiffani A
TA
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3300 Whitehaven Street, NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC, USA.
Nusbaum
Rachel H
RH
Peshkin
Beth N
BN
Patenaude
Andrea F
AF
Schneider
Katherine A
KA
Garber
Judy E
JE
Valdimarsdottir
Heiddis B
HB
Tercyak
Kenneth P
KP
D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human