title: [Knowledge and willingness of breast cancer patients from Shanghai for genetic counseling and gene testing].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the knowledge and willingness of breast cancers patients from Shanghai for genetic counseling and gene testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 428 patients filled out the questionnaire and the data was statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients were unaware of genetic counseling and gene testing. But after a brief introduction, a majority of them were willing to accept genetic counseling and recommend their family members to participate. The willingness was education- and age-related. When told that gene testing may benefit themselves, 92.1% of the patients were willing to be tested. However, when told that gene testing may only benefit their family, only 33.9% of the patients were willing to join the testing. The acceptance was also age-, education- and family income-related. The difference was statistically significant. Moreover, the willingness ratio to participate the gene testing was lower than expected. Overall, 74.1% of the patients were willing to accept cheaper preliminary gene screening, whilst only 19.2% were willing to accept genetic testing of higher price. Despite of being told that testing results will be maintained as confidential, still 43.2% worried about adverse effects. Such patients tended to younger, from low-income families, with a family history of associated cancers, or personal history of other cancers. The difference was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majorities of patients do not know but are willing to accept genetic counseling and gene testing and recommend their family to participate. Lack of genetic knowledge, cost for the testing and concerns about discrimination are the obstacles for patients to participate in genetic counseling and gene testing. To spread the knowledge about breast cancer and establish a follow-up screening system for high-risk population may improve the tertiary prevention for breast cancer.
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200040, China. Email: zhuang_zg@163.com.
authors: Xiaolin
authors: X
authors: Cheng
authors: Zhengdong
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Xiaoyin
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Beiqi
authors: B
authors: Jiang
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human