Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Feb;34(1):e1926.
doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1926. Epub 2024 May 27.

Impact of barriers and motivators on intention and confidence to undergo hereditary cancer genetic testing

Sarah Austin  1 , Erika N Hanson  2 , Emerson Delacroix  1   2   3 , Elizabeth Bacon  2 , John Rice  3 , Lynette Hammond Gerido  4 , Elizabeth Rizzo  2 , Versha Pleasant  1 , Elena M Stoffel  1   2 , Jennifer J Griggs  1   2   3 , Ken Resnicow  1   3
Affiliations

Impact of barriers and motivators on intention and confidence to undergo hereditary cancer genetic testing

Sarah Austin et al. J Genet Couns. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes can provide lifesaving information allowing for individualized cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. However, the determinants, both barriers and motivators, of genetic testing intention are not well described. A survey of barriers and motivators to genetic testing was emailed to adult patients eligible for genetic testing based on cancer diagnosis who previously have not had genetic testing (n = 201). Associations between barriers/motivators with testing intention and confidence were examined first by correlation followed by multivariable linear regression model holding constant potential covariates. Seven barrier items from two domains (logistics and genetic testing knowledge) were found to significantly negatively correlate with genetic testing intention. Unexpectedly, three barrier items had significant positive correlation with genetic testing intention; these were related to family worry (passing a condition on to future generations) and testing knowledge (needing more information on the genetic testing process and what it has to offer). Ten barrier items had significant negative correlation with confidence to get a genetic test and encompassed four domains: stigma, insurance/genetic discrimination, knowledge, and cost. All motivator items were associated with intention to get a genetic test, while none were associated with confidence. Multivariable analysis yielded six total barriers (five from the knowledge domain, one from cost domain) and two motivators (relieved to know and treatment impact) that were significantly associated with genetic testing intention or confidence when controlling for demographic characteristics. These findings indicate the need for tailored interventions to amplify motivating factors and counter-message barriers to enhance patient motivation and confidence to undergo testing.

Keywords: barriers; genetic testing; health behavior; intention; knowledge.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Authors Sarah Austin, Erika N. Hanson, Emerson Delacroix, Elizabeth Bacon, Lynette Hammond Gerido, Elizabeth Rizzo, Versha Pleasant, Elena M. Stoffel, Jennifer J. Griggs, and Ken Resnicow declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Chang, Y. J. , Cho, S. , Joo, J. , Ryu, K. H. , Lee, S. , Cho, J. , Lim, M. C. , Jung, S. Y. , Han, J. H. , Lee, E. S. , & Kong, S. Y. (2022). Differences in willingness to undergo BRCA1/2 testing and risk reducing surgery among the general public, cancer patients, and healthcare professionals: A large population‐based survey. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(5), 818. 10.3390/jpm12050818 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Childers, C. P. , Childers, K. K. , Maggard‐Gibbons, M. , & Macinko, J. (2017). National estimates of genetic testing in women with a history of breast or ovarian cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 35(34), 3800–3806. 10.1200/JCO.2017.73.6314 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Clark, N. M. , Roberts, E. A. , Fedorenko, C. , Sun, Q. , Dubard‐Gault, M. , Handford, C. , Yung, R. , Cheng, H. H. , Sham, J. G. , Norquist, B. M. , & Flanagan, M. R. (2023). Genetic testing among patients with high‐risk breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 30(3), 1312–1326. 10.1245/s10434-022-12755-y - DOI - PubMed
    1. Daly, M. B. , Pal, T. , Berry, M. P. , Buys, S. S. , Dickson, P. , Domchek, S. M. , Elkhanany, A. , Friedman, S. , Goggins, M. , Hutton, M. L. , CGC , Karlan, B. Y. , Khan, S. , Klein, C. , Kohlmann, W. , Kurian, A. W. , Laronga, C. , Litton, J. K. , Mak, J. S. , … Dwyer, M. A. (2021). Genetic/familial high‐risk assessment: Breast, ovarian, and pancreatic, version 2.2021, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 19(1), 77–102. 10.6004/jnccn.2021.0001 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Durfy, S. J. , Bowen, D. J. , McTiernan, A. , Sporleder, J. , & Burke, W. (1999). Attitudes and interest in genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility in diverse groups of women in western Washington. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 8(4 Pt 2), 369–375. - PubMed