Article Date: 18 Apr 2011
Direct-to-consumer genetic tests (also known as personal genetic tests) are marketed as a way for people to learn about their own susceptibility to common chronic diseases so they can take appropriate preventive health steps. Professional organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics - advise against genetic testing of children for adult-onset conditions when this information has not been shown to reduce morbidity or mortality through interventions initiated in childhood. In the study, "Parents' Attitudes Toward Pediatric Genetic Testing for Common Disease Risk," published in the May issue of Pediatrics (published online April 18), researchers sought to survey parents' attitudes about genetic testing to help pediatricians anticipate parents' questions and to prepare for discussions that could arise from the increasing availability of genetic tests.
In the study, 219 parents who had been offered genetic testing for susceptibility to eight common, adult-onset health conditions (including colon, skin and lung cancer; heart disease; osteoporosis; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; and type 2 diabetes) were surveyed about their beliefs of the risks and benefits of the test for their child, as well as their interest in having their child tested.
Parents tended to consider the benefits outweighed the risks of the test, and were inclined to have their child tested if the test were offered. (No children were tested in this study.) Parents were more likely to want to have their child tested if they thought their child was at risk for disease, were interested in gene-health links, and if they anticipated having a positive emotional reaction to learning their child was at a decreased risk of disease. Study authors suggest parents may not accurately anticipate their full range of emotional reactions to genetic information about their children's risk for common preventable health conditions, and may benefit from greater discussion of the potential downsides of testing children to make more informed choices.
Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/222707.php
