Factors affecting the decision to have genetic testing for breast cancer

Abstract

The psychosocial factors that predict genetic testing for breast cancer were examined in a group of 100 women attending a breast cancer screening clinic. The women participated in a research study in which the opportunity to donate DNA for BRCA1 testing was offered. After a baseline assessment oil demographic variables, objective risk, general and cancer-specific distress, perceived risk and the personality trait, neuroticism, participants were offered the opportunity to receive free genetic counseling and BRCA1 testing. overall, 61% of the sample donated blood in order to learn their carrier status. The factors related to DNA donation were: age, income, education, objective risk, general distress and neuroticism. After controlling for all other variables, neuroticism was a significant predictor of test use (R Square Change (1, N = 94) = 5.12, p = .05). This is the first study to examine personality in relation to genetic testing for breast cancer.