title: Predictors of interest in direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
abstract: Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing is an increasingly available option among individuals searching for information about their health risk factors and ancestry. This study is one of the first to examine predictors of interest in DTC genetic testing. Participants read one of the three types of information about DTC genetic testing (positive only, negative only or both) and reported perceptions of and intentions to pursue testing. The information which people read, their perceptions of the benefits of testing, their perceptions of the barriers to testing and anticipated regret predicted intentions to undergo testing. Interestingly, people who read both positive and negative information did not differ from people who read only negative information in their intentions to pursue testing. We discuss the implications of these findings for predicting interest in this relatively new type of genetic testing and for designing interventions to encourage (or discourage) testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. ksweeny@ucr.edu
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sweeny
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Legg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003657:Decision Making; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic