title: Perceptions about genetic testing for the susceptibility to alcohol dependence and other multifactorial diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beliefs, attitudes, and preferences about the risk and benefits of genetic testing are important determinants of willingness to undergo testing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived importance of genetic testing for alcohol dependence compared with other multifactorial diseases among African Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were conducted with 258 participants using the Genetic Psycho-Social Implications (GPSI) questionnaire to evaluate several areas of hypothetical genetic testing for alcohol dependence. Respondents were divided into two groups: those who perceived testing for alcohol dependence to be equally important as testing for cancer and those who did not. Using chi-square, the groups' responses were compared for nine GPSI items measuring beliefs about the severity of alcohol dependence, general benefits of genetic testing, and specific benefits of genetic testing for diabetes, hypertension, or a disease affecting a family member.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 86% of respondents believed that genetic testing for alcoholism was equally as important as testing for cancer. Those who reported parity of importance of alcohol dependence and cancer screening were more likely to believe that alcoholism is a deadly disease (p<0.001) and genetic testing influences health (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  African Americans reported favorable attitudes and beliefs in possible availability of susceptibility genetic testing for alcohol dependence. The perceived importance of testing for alcohol dependence was associated with beliefs about the severity of alcoholism and certain benefits of genetic testing in general.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Center, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia 20059, USA. vjmarshall@howard.edu
authors.forename: Vanessa J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Nnenna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwagyan
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult