title: Consumers report lower confidence in their genetics knowledge following direct-to-consumer personal genomic testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure changes to genetics knowledge and self-efficacy following personal genomic testing (PGT).
  
  
  METHODS
  New customers of 23andMe and Pathway Genomics completed a series of online surveys. We measured genetics knowledge (nine true/false items) and genetics self-efficacy (five Likert-scale items) before receipt of results and 6 months after results and used paired methods to evaluate change over time. Correlates of change (e.g., decision regret) were identified using linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  998 PGT customers (59.9% female; 85.8% White; mean age 46.9 ± 15.5 years) were included in our analyses. Mean genetics knowledge score was 8.15 ± 0.95 (out of 9) at baseline and 8.25 ± 0.92 at 6 months (P = 0.0024). Mean self-efficacy score was 29.06 ± 5.59 (out of 35) at baseline and 27.7 ± 5.46 at 6 months (P < 0.0001); on each item, 30-45% of participants reported lower self-efficacy following PGT. Change in self-efficacy was positively associated with health-care provider consultation (P = 0.0042), impact of PGT on perceived control over one's health (P < 0.0001), and perceived value of PGT (P < 0.0001) and was negatively associated with decision regret (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lowered genetics self-efficacy following PGT may reflect an appropriate reevaluation by consumers in response to receiving complex genetic information.Genet Med 18 1, 65-72.
authors: Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Deanna Alexis
authors: DA
authors: Carere
authors: Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kraft
authors: Department of Communication, College of Humanities, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.|Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors: Kimberly A
authors: KA
authors: Kaphingst
authors: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors: J Scott
authors: JS
authors: Roberts
authors: Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Partners Personalized Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Robert C
authors: RC
authors: Green
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D000067108:Direct-To-Consumer Screening and Testing / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires