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. 2016 Jan;18(1):65-72.
doi: 10.1038/gim.2015.34. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Consumers report lower confidence in their genetics knowledge following direct-to-consumer personal genomic testing

Deanna Alexis Carere  1   2 , Peter Kraft  1 , Kimberly A Kaphingst  3   4 , J Scott Roberts  5 , Robert C Green  2   6   7
Affiliations

Consumers report lower confidence in their genetics knowledge following direct-to-consumer personal genomic testing

Deanna Alexis Carere et al. Genet Med. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure changes to genetics knowledge and self-efficacy following personal genomic testing (PGT).

Methods: New customers of 23andMe and Pathway Genomics completed a series of online surveys. We measured genetics knowledge (nine true/false items) and genetics self-efficacy (five Likert-scale items) before receipt of results and 6 months after results and used paired methods to evaluate change over time. Correlates of change (e.g., decision regret) were identified using linear regression.

Results: 998 PGT customers (59.9% female; 85.8% White; mean age 46.9 ± 15.5 years) were included in our analyses. Mean genetics knowledge score was 8.15 ± 0.95 (out of 9) at baseline and 8.25 ± 0.92 at 6 months (P = 0.0024). Mean self-efficacy score was 29.06 ± 5.59 (out of 35) at baseline and 27.7 ± 5.46 at 6 months (P < 0.0001); on each item, 30-45% of participants reported lower self-efficacy following PGT. Change in self-efficacy was positively associated with health-care provider consultation (P = 0.0042), impact of PGT on perceived control over one's health (P < 0.0001), and perceived value of PGT (P < 0.0001) and was negatively associated with decision regret (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Lowered genetics self-efficacy following PGT may reflect an appropriate reevaluation by consumers in response to receiving complex genetic information.Genet Med 18 1, 65-72.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Least squares (LS)-adjusted mean change in rating of each Self Efficacy item from baseline to 6 month follow-up, stratified by post-PGT health care provider consultation status. Adjusted means were obtained from linear regression models for change in rating of each item, with adjustment for baseline item rating, age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and PGT company. Health care provider consultation was significantly associated change in rating of Item 1 (p = .0041), Item 2 (p = .0253), Item 4 (p = .0208), and Item 5 (p = .0003), but not Item 3 (p = 0.0590).
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