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

  1. Author:
    Ortiz, A. P.
    Lopez, M.
    Flores, L. T.
    Soto-Salgado, M.
    Rutten, L. J. F.
    Serrano-Rodriguez, R. A.
    Hesse, B. W.
    Tortolero-Luna, G.

  2. Author Address

    [Ortiz, Ana Patricia] Univ Puerto Rico, Dept Biostat & Epidemiol, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, San Juan, PR 00936 USA. [Ortiz, Ana Patricia; Tortolero-Luna, Guillermo] Univ Puerto Rico, Ctr Comprehens Canc, San Juan, PR 00936 USA. [Lopez, Magdalena] Univ N Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA. [Flores, Libertad T.] Brown Univ, Alpert Med Sch, Providence, RI 02912 USA. [Rutten, Lila J. Finney] NCI, SAIC Frederick Inc, Frederick, MD 21701 USA. [Serrano-Rodriguez, Ruby A.] Puerto Rico Dept Hlth, San Juan, PR USA. [Hesse, Bradford W.] NCI, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.;Ortiz, AP (reprint author), Univ Puerto Rico, Dept Biostat & Epidemiol, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, Med Sci Campus,POB 365067, San Juan, PR 00936 USA;ana.ortiz7@upr.edu
    1. Year: 2011
    2. Date: Sep
  2. Journal: Preventing Chronic Disease
    1. 8
    2. 5
  4. Type of Article: Article
  5. Article Number: A110
  6. ISSN: 1545-1151
  1. Abstract:

    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.

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External Sources

  1. View record in Web of Science®
  2. WOS: 000300562300020

Library Notes

  1. Fiscal Year: FY2011-2012
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