title: Individual and family characteristics associated with BRCA1/2 genetic testing in high-risk families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about family members' interrelated decisions to seek genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The specific aims of this cross-sectional, descriptive, cohort study were (i) to examine whether individual and family characteristics have a direct effect on women's decisions to use genetic testing for hereditary susceptibility to breast cancer and (ii) to explore whether family characteristics moderate the relationships between individual characteristics and the decision to use genetic testing. Participants were women (>18 years old) who (i) received genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer and who agreed to invite one of their female relatives into the study and (ii) female relatives who had NOT obtained genetic testing and were identified by pedigree analysis as having >10% chances of hereditary susceptibility to breast cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final sample consisted of 168 English-speaking, family dyads who completed self-administered, mailed surveys with validated instruments. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses showed that the proposed model explained 62% of the variance in genetic testing. The factors most significantly associated with genetic testing were having a personal history of cancer; perceiving genetic testing to have more benefits than barriers; having greater family hardiness; and perceiving fewer negative consequences associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. No significant interaction effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that both individual and family characteristics are associated with the decision to obtain genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer; hence, there is a need for interventions that foster a supportive family environment for patients and their high-risk relatives.
authors: University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. mkatapo@umich.edu
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: Katapodi
authors: Laurel L
authors: LL
authors: Northouse
authors: Kara J
authors: KJ
authors: Milliron
authors: Guipeng
authors: G
authors: Liu
authors: Sofia D
authors: SD
authors: Merajver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires