Awareness of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests and Use of Genetic Tests Among Puerto Rican Adults, 2009

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Ortiz, Ana Patricia ; López, Magdalena ; Flores, Libertad T. ; Soto-Salgado, Marievelisse ; Finney Rutten, Lila J. ; Serrano-Rodriguez, Ruby A. ; Hesse, Bradford W. ; Tortolero-Luna, Guillermo
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  Genetic testing remains low among racial/ethnic minority populations in the United States. We aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of awareness of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests and the prevalence of genetic test use in a population-based sample of adults in Puerto Rico.
  
  Methods
  
  We analyzed data from adults aged 18 years or older who completed information on genetic test awareness (n = 611; 96% of study population) from the Health Information National Trends Survey conducted in Puerto Rico in 2009. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated by using logistic regression models to identify factors associated with awareness of DTC genetic tests.
  
  Results
  
  The majority of respondents (56%) were aware of direct-to-consumer genetic tests, and approximately 4% had ever undergone any genetic test. Respondents who had never been married were less likely to be aware of DTC tests, as were current smokers. Respondents who ever sought cancer information were more likely to be aware of these tests.
  
  Conclusion
  
  We provide the first published data on the awareness of DTC genetic tests and on use of genetic testing in Puerto Rico. Forty-four percent of our sample of Puerto Rican adults were unaware of direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Given the lack of clear benefits of DTC genetic tests to the general population, educational interventions should be developed to increase awareness and specific knowledge regarding the appropriate use of DTC genetic tests among people who are already aware of their existence.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Biotechnology Consumer Health Information Female Genetic Testing Humans Male Marketing Middle Aged Original Research Patient Education As Topic Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 2011; 8(5).
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Puerto Rico
• Location:
  Caribbean
• Volume:
  8
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4cc49c6d32e24be76da8e7e9ab51ae04051d5703e777cadd02a951deadb1b2b4ee77224bdd131c55104c6ae765e00314d929dcce943956d46b5be3f70216c103
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/20613/cdc_20613_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 596.74 KB ]