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THE IMPACT OF TEST OUTCOME CERTAINTY ON INTEREST IN GENETIC TESTING AMONG COLLEGE WOMEN

HOLMGREN, LISA MICHELLE
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin994694629

Abstract Details

2001, MS, University of Cincinnati, Allied Health Sciences : Genetic Counseling.
Predictive genetic tests for complex genetic diseases will lead to earlier diagnosis and improved prevention strategies. Personalized genetic risk information could therefore be of considerable benefit to young adults, even though genetic tests for complex diseases may only provide an estimation of disease risk rather than a precise diagnosis. This study assessed interest in genetic testing for a complex genetic disease, osteoporosis, and a single-gene disorder, hemochromatosis, in a group of college women. these diseases are both late-onset and preventable, but genetic tests for these conditions differ in their potential predictive abilities. We hypothesized that interest in a genetic test for hemochromatosis would be higher than interest in a theoretical test for osteoporosis susceptibility, given the higher predictive value of the hemochromatosis test, and that health behaviors would predict interest in testing. Participants were 181 undergraduate women recruited through introductory psychology classes at the University of Cincinnati. They were randomly assigned to receive a questionnaire containing either osteoporosis or hemochromatosis. After assessment of prior disease knowledge and health behaviors, the clinical features of each disease and the limits of a genetic test for each were described. Interest in genetic testing and disease specific health beliefs were then assessed. We compared interest in testing between the osteoporosis and hemochromatosis groups and analyzed variables for association with genetic test acceptance. Sixty-three percent of the total population was interested in genetic testing. There was a trend toward higher interest in the osteoporosis group (68%) than in the hemochromatosis (58%), though no significant difference was found. Significant predictors of test acceptance were disease familiarity, perceived disease severity, perceived risk, and perceived benefits of testing. Health behaviors were not related to interest in testing. These results suggest that college women may be receptive to genetic screening tests for preventable conditions. The impact of familiarity and certain health beliefs on test acceptance suggests that disease specific education would be an essential component of a genetic screening program.
Dr. Richard Wenstrup (Advisor)
1 p.
Biology, Genetics
CERTAINTY; INTEREST IN GENETIC TESTING; OSTEOPOROSIS; HEMOCHROMATOSIS

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Citations

  • HOLMGREN, L. M. (2001). THE IMPACT OF TEST OUTCOME CERTAINTY ON INTEREST IN GENETIC TESTING AMONG COLLEGE WOMEN [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin994694629

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • HOLMGREN, LISA. THE IMPACT OF TEST OUTCOME CERTAINTY ON INTEREST IN GENETIC TESTING AMONG COLLEGE WOMEN. 2001. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin994694629.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • HOLMGREN, LISA. "THE IMPACT OF TEST OUTCOME CERTAINTY ON INTEREST IN GENETIC TESTING AMONG COLLEGE WOMEN." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin994694629

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin994694629
© 2001, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.