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01-02-2012 | Original Research

Primary Care Physicians’ Awareness, Experience and Opinions of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

Authors: Karen P. Powell, Whitney A. Cogswell, Carol A. Christianson, Gaurav Dave, Amit Verma, Sonja Eubanks, Vincent C. Henrich

Published in: Journal of Genetic Counseling | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess primary care physicians’ awareness, experience, opinions and preparedness to answer patients’ questions regarding direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. An anonymous survey was mailed to 2,402 family and internal medicine providers in North Carolina. Of the 382 respondents, 38.7% (n = 148) were aware of and 15% (n = 59) felt prepared to answer questions about DTC genetic tests. Respondents aged 50 or older were more likely to be aware of DTC genetic testing than those less than 40 years old (OR = 2.42). Male providers were more likely to feel prepared to answer questions than female providers (OR = 2.65). Among respondents who reportedly were aware, family practitioners were more likely than internists (OR = 3.30) to think DTC testing was clinically useful, and 18.9% had patients ask questions or bring in test results. The small percent of physicians who were aware of DTC genetic testing or felt prepared to answer questions about it suggests that education of providers will be necessary if testing becomes more widespread.

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Title: Primary Care Physicians’ Awareness, Experience and Opinions of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
Authors: Karen P. Powell
Whitney A. Cogswell
Carol A. Christianson
Gaurav Dave
Amit Verma
Sonja Eubanks
Vincent C. Henrich
Publication date: 01-02-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Genetic Counseling / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1059-7700
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3599
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-011-9390-9

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Primary Care Physicians’ Awareness, Experience and Opinions of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

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