title: Attitudes toward direct-to-consumer advertisements and online genetic testing among high-risk women participating in a hereditary cancer clinic.
abstract: Genetic testing for the breast cancer genes 1/2 (BRCA 1/2) has helped women determine their risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. As interest in genetic testing has grown, companies have created strategies to disseminate information about testing, including direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) and online genetic testing. This study examined attitudes toward DTCA and online testing for BRCA among 84 women at a high-risk clinic as well as additional factors that may be associated with these attitudes, such as personal and familial cancer history, cancer worry and risk perception, and history with genetic testing/counseling. Results showed that the majority of the women held favorable attitudes toward DTCA for BRCA testing but did not support online testing. Factors such as familial ovarian cancer, cancer worry, and satisfaction with genetic counseling/testing were associated with positive attitudes toward DTCA, whereas personal breast cancer history was related to negative attitudes. The findings suggest that women may view DTCA as informational but rely on physicians for help in their decision to undergo testing, and also suggest that cancer history may affect women's acceptance of DTCA and genetic testing.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1020, USA. giselle.perez@uconn.edu
authors: Giselle K
authors: GK
authors: Perez
authors: Dean G
authors: DG
authors: Cruess
authors: Stacy
authors: S
authors: Cruess
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Brewer
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Stroop
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Schwartz
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Greenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C111164:BRAP protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases