title: Parents' interest in genetic testing of their offspring in multiplex epilepsy families.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate parents' interest in genetic testing of their offspring in families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven parents with affected offspring and 173 parents without affected offspring from families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy completed a questionnaire asking about their interest in genetic testing of their offspring. Interest in testing was ascertained in four scenarios defined by clinical utility and penetrance of the gene in the test (100% vs. 50%). Pairwise agreement in interest was assessed between parents for testing themselves versus their offspring, and between mothers and fathers for their offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among parents with affected offspring, the proportion interested in genetic testing of offspring ("diagnostic testing") was 86% in the 100% penetrance, clinical utility scenario, and 71% in the 100% penetrance, no clinical utility scenario (p = 0.007). Among parents without affected offspring, comparable proportions interested in genetic testing of offspring ("predictive testing") were 74% and 53% (p < 0.001), and were significantly lower than in parents with affected offspring (clinical utility, p = 0.02; no clinical utility, p = 0.01). Interest in testing did not differ by gene penetrance. Parents' agreement in testing interest for themselves versus their offspring was "substantial" (90% agreement, κ = 0.72) for a test with clinical utility, and "almost perfect" for a test without clinical utility (94% agreement, κ = 0.88). Agreement in testing interest between mothers and fathers was "moderate" for a test with clinical utility (85% agreement, κ = 0.48,), and "fair" for a test without clinical utility (67% agreement, κ = 0.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interest in diagnostic genetic testing is strong among parents with offspring with epilepsy, particularly when the test offers clinical utility. Testing interest is lower for a diagnostic test without clinical utility, or for a predictive test in offspring at risk of developing epilepsy in the future.
authors.affiliation: GH Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Courtney B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Caminiti
authors.affiliation: GH Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Dale C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hesdorffer
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shostak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.affiliation: GH Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Shawn T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sorge
authors.affiliation: GH Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Melodie R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Winawer
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jo C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Wendy K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: GH Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.|Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ottman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D019683:Penetrance; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Epidemiology; Epilepsy; Genetic testing; Genetics; Survey