Receipt of genetic counseling recommendations among black women at high risk for BRCA mutations.
Low use of BRCA counseling and testing services among black women has been reported in several studies, even though such services may play an important role in reducing racial disparities in breast cancer. Surprisingly, little is known about the extent to which black women at high risk for BRCA mutations actually receive recommendations for BRCA counseling. Thus, a primary goal of the current study was to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the receipt of physician recommendation for genetic counseling based on the self-report of black women at high risk for BRCA mutations. In this cross-sectional study, participants were 125 black women with a family history suggestive of a hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer syndrome. Participants were asked about their receipt of genetic counseling recommendation or referral. Physician recommendation was reported by over two-thirds of the sample. Multivariate analyses revealed that older age and study recruitment source, specifically community-based recruitment, were significantly and independently associated with lower likelihood of physician recommendation. Findings highlight the need for additional research to identify subgroups of high-risk black women among whom physician recommendation of genetic counseling is low but would benefit from such counseling.
Population Studies and Disparities Research Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. thompsoh@karmanos.org
Hayley S
HS
Thompson
Katarina
K
Sussner
Marc D
MD
Schwartz
Tiffany
T
Edwards
Andrea
A
Forman
Lina
L
Jandorf
Karen
K
Brown
Dana H
DH
Bovbjerg
Heiddis B
HB
Valdimarsdottir
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology