Predictors of interest in direct-to-consumer genetic testing

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing is an increasingly available option among individuals searching for information about their health risk factors and ancestry. This study is one of the first to examine predictors of interest in DTC genetic testing. Participants read one of the three types of information about DTC genetic testing (positive only, negative only or both) and reported perceptions of and intentions to pursue testing. The information which people read, their perceptions of the benefits of testing, their perceptions of the barriers to testing and anticipated regret predicted intentions to undergo testing. Interestingly, people who read both positive and negative information did not differ from people who read only negative information in their intentions to pursue testing. We discuss the implications of these findings for predicting interest in this relatively new type of genetic testing and for designing interventions to encourage (or discourage) testing.

Keywords:

• genetic testing
• decision-making
• direct-to-consumer
• anticipated regret
• health belief model

Notes

Note

1. Although the use of single-item measures for complex constructs can reduce measurement validity, we were interested in measuring anticipation of a specific emotional experience. As is typical of other emotion measures, we felt that direct items measuring the emotion of interest would be most appropriate in this case.