Individual and family characteristics associated with BRCA1/2 genetic testing in high‐risk families. Issue 6 (24th July 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katapodi, Maria C.; Northouse, Laurel L.; Milliron, Kara J.; Liu, Guipeng; Merajver, Sofia D.
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 22:Issue 6(2013)
• Page Start: 1336
• Page End: 1343
• Publication Date: 2012-07-24
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3139
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3139-sec-0016" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Little is known about family members' interrelated decisions to seek genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3139-sec-0017" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3139-sec-0018" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3139-sec-0019" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>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. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>