Perceived understanding and psychosocial outcomes: employees' responses to learning results of workplace genetic testing

Abstract

Aims: This study explored employees' understanding of, and psychosocial responses to, workplace genetic testing (wGT) results.

Materials & methods: Employees of a US healthcare system who underwent wGT (hereditary cancer/heart disease risk, pharmacogenomics) and received results were surveyed. We ascertained pretest education engagement, test understanding, and psychosocial responses. Regression analyses identified predictors of scores on a modified Feelings About genomiC Test Results questionnaire (positive feelings, negative emotions, and uncertainty after wGT).

Results: N = 418 employees (mean age = 44 years; 88.3% female; 80.6% white) completed the survey. Mean scores (out of 12; higher scores indicate a greater extent of each feeling) were 5.2 (SD = 2.9) for positive feelings, 1.2 (SD = 2.2) for negative emotions, and 2.0 (SD = 2.5) for uncertainty. Identifying as non-Hispanic African American/Black and receiving increased risk (cancer/heart disease) wGT results were associated with lower positive feelings and higher negative emotions and uncertainty scores (all p < 0.05). Open-ended responses indicated difficulty interpreting, recalling, and utilizing results.

Conclusions: wGT was associated with low levels of measured psychosocial harm among participants. However, results suggested a greater likelihood of negative psychosocial responses among those with increased risk of cancer/heart disease and non-Hispanic African American/Black employees. Future studies should explore strategies to ensure all employees undergoing wGT have educational and psychosocial support.

Keywords: Workplace genetic testing (wGT); direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing; ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI); hereditary cancers; hereditary cardiac conditions; pharmacogenomics (PGx); psychosocial responses; understanding.