Engagement with Genetic Information and Uptake of Genetic Testing: the Role of Trust and Personal Cancer History
First Online:
We used national survey data to (1) determine the extent to which
individuals trust the sources from which they are most likely to receive
information about cancer-related genetic tests (BRCA1/2,
Lynch syndrome), (2) examine how level of trust for sources of genetic
information might be related to cancer-related genetic testing uptake,
and (3) determine whether key factors, such as cancer history and
numeracy, moderate the latter association. We used cross-sectional data
from the Health Information National Trends Survey.
Our study sample
included individuals who responded that they had heard or read about
genetic tests (n = 1117). All
analyses accounted for complex survey design. Although respondents
trusted information from health professionals the most, they were
significantly less likely to report hearing about genetic testing from
such professionals than via television (p < 0.01).
Regardless of source, higher levels of trust in the information source
from which participants heard about genetic tests were associated with
increased odds of genetic testing uptake, particularly among those with a
personal cancer history. Numeracy was not associated with genetic
testing uptake. Because health professionals were among the most trusted
health information sources, they may serve as important brokers of
genetic testing information for those with a personal cancer history.
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