title: Awareness and preferences regarding BRCA1/2 genetic counseling and testing among Latinas and non-Latina white women at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
abstract: This study was an investigation of awareness, cognitions, and psychosocial and educational needs related to genetic counseling and testing among Latinas and non-Latina whites at increased risk for having a BRCA1/2 mutation. Sixty-three Latina and eighty-four non-Latina white women completed telephone surveys employing a mixture of quantitative and qualitative questions assessing awareness, benefits, risks, barriers, and genetic counseling communication preferences regarding BRCA1/2 testing. Among participants who had not previously had genetic counseling/testing, 56.9% of Latinas (29/51) and 34.8% of non-Latina white participants (24/69) were unaware of the availability of BRCA1/2 testing. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, Latina ethnicity was the only statistically significant independent factor associated with lack of awareness (OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.19-0.35). No appreciable differences were noted between ethnic groups regarding perceived benefits of BRCA1/2 testing or desired genetic counseling topics. These findings underscore the importance of increasing awareness of cancer genetic counseling and genetic testing among both Latina and non-Latina white populations.
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. amanda.gammon@hci.utah.edu
authors.forename: Amanda Dawn
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gammon
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Jan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballinger
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: Anita Yeomans
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Kinney
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People