Effect of Superstitious Beliefs and Risk Intuitions on Genetic Test Decisions

2021 ◽  
pp. 0272989X2110292
Author(s):  
Kristen E. Riley ◽  
Andrew L. Sussman ◽  
Elizabeth Schofield ◽  
Dolores D. Guest ◽  
Yvonne T. Dailey ◽  
...  

Introduction Moving beyond numeric representations of risk perceptions, we examine cognitive causation, or superstitious thinking, and negative affect in risk as predictors of MC1R (i.e., moderate v. high risk) skin cancer genetic testing and responses to this testing. Methods Participants ( N = 496) completed baseline assessments using validated measures of cognitive causation (beliefs that thinking about cancer risk increases cancer likelihood) and negative affect in risk (negative feelings generated during risk perception) and subsequently received a test offer. Participants could access a website to learn about and request genetic testing. Those who tested ( n = 167) completed assessments of cognitive and affective reactions 2 wk after testing, including the Impact of Events–Revised Intrusive thoughts subscale. Results Those with higher negative affect in risk were less likely to return a saliva sample for testing (odds ratio = 0.98, 95% confidence interval = 0.96–0.99). Those with higher cognitive causation reported more fear ( b = 0.28–0.31; P’s < 0.05). Higher negative affect in risk was associated with more emotion-laden test responses, particularly in those receiving higher-risk as compared with average-risk results. Conclusion Negative affect in risk did not hamper test information seeking, although it did inhibit the uptake of genetic testing. Those with higher cognitive causation showed more fear regarding their test result, as indicated by higher distress in those who received average-risk results and lower believability in those who received higher-risk results.

2014 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Shiloh ◽  
H.D. deHeer ◽  
S. Peleg ◽  
S. Hensley Alford ◽  
K. Skapinsky ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (20) ◽  
pp. 2232-2239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison W. Kurian ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Ann S. Hamilton ◽  
Kevin C. Ward ◽  
Sarah T. Hawley ◽  
...  

Purpose Genetic testing for breast cancer risk is evolving rapidly, with growing use of multiple-gene panels that can yield uncertain results. However, little is known about the context of such testing or its impact on treatment. Methods A population-based sample of patients with breast cancer diagnosed in 2014 to 2015 and identified by two SEER registries (Georgia and Los Angeles) were surveyed about genetic testing experiences (N = 3,672; response rate, 68%). Responses were merged with SEER data. A patient subgroup at higher pretest risk of pathogenic mutation carriage was defined according to genetic testing guidelines. Patients’ attending surgeons were surveyed about genetic testing and results management. We examined patterns and correlates of genetic counseling and testing and the impact of results on bilateral mastectomy (BLM) use. Results Six hundred sixty-six patients reported genetic testing. Although two thirds of patients were tested before surgical treatment, patients without private insurance more often experienced delays. Approximately half of patients (57% at higher pretest risk, 42% at average risk) discussed results with a genetic counselor. Patients with pathogenic mutations in BRCA1/2 or another gene had the highest rates of BLM (higher risk, 80%; average risk, 85%); however, BLM was also common among patients with genetic variants of uncertain significance (VUS; higher risk, 43%; average risk, 51%). Surgeons’ confidence in discussing testing increased with volume of patients with breast cancer, but many surgeons (higher volume, 24%; lower volume, 50%) managed patients with BRCA1/2 VUS the same as patients with BRCA1/2 pathogenic mutations. Conclusion Many patients with breast cancer are tested without ever seeing a genetic counselor. Half of average-risk patients with VUS undergo BLM, suggesting a limited understanding of results that some surgeons share. These findings emphasize the need to address challenges in personalized communication about genetic testing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13612-e13612
Author(s):  
Katherine Crawford ◽  
Ekaterina Koelliker ◽  
Ellie Proussaloglou ◽  
Jessica Laprise ◽  
Jennifer Scalia Wilbur ◽  
...  

e13612 Background: The COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 resulted in the shift to telemedicine for many specialties including cancer genetic counseling (GC). We sought to understand the impact that converting GC services to telehealth (TH) would have on patient acceptance of recommended genetic testing, time to completion of testing, and time to follow-up GC consultation. Methods: Data analyzing GC in-patient vs. TH consultations were collected using both electronic medical record as well as a laboratory’s testing portal. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software. The rates of patient agreement to genetic testing and sample success, along with the time to report availability and to GC follow-up visit was compared between traditional in-person visits and TH visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person visits from March -July 2019 were compared with date matched visits from March -July 2020, when all visits had been converted to TH. Patients who received an in-person consultation received a blood draw on the day of their appointment while TH patients were asked to mail a saliva sample back to the testing laboratory. Results: An analysis of a case-matched cohort between 2019 in-person new visits (n = 30) and 2020 TH new visits (n = 48) was performed. There was not a significant difference in rate of consent to suggested testing between in-person (93.3%) and TH (91.2%) (p = 0.29), though a few TH patients who consented failed to submit a sample (% tested = 93.3% vs. 85.4%, p = 0.01). TH patients had a longer time between their initial consult and when the test report was generated with average turn-around time increasing from 14.33 to 33.82 days (p < 0.1). There was no increase in time from initial consultation to follow up GC appointments (70.46 vs. 75.96 days, p = 0.74) for TH and in-person, respectively. Conclusions: Our data shows that during COVID-19, TH allowed patients to access GC with no significant differences in the length of time between initial consultation and follow up appointments. The type of GC received did not greatly influence a patient’s willingness to consent to testing, despite challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that TH services may be an acceptable substitute. However, TH services are not without their limitations as time between the initial appointment and receipt of test results was significantly longer and sample failure rates were higher. We postulate that the delay was due to the time it took to ship the saliva kit, have the patient collect the sample at home, and return the specimen back to the lab rather than the immediate blood draw that occurs during the in-person visit. The higher sample failure rate seen in TH is likely due to the differences between blood and saliva collections. Additional research is needed to fully understand the outcomes observed in this study in order to assist in developing the most effective strategies for cancer genetic TH services.


Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Arendt ◽  
Sebastian Scherr

Abstract. Background: Research has already acknowledged the importance of the Internet in suicide prevention as search engines such as Google are increasingly used in seeking both helpful and harmful suicide-related information. Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of a highly publicized suicide by a Hollywood actor on suicide-related online information seeking. Method: We tested the impact of the highly publicized suicide of Robin Williams on volumes of suicide-related search queries. Results: Both harmful and helpful search terms increased immediately after the actor's suicide, with a substantial jump of harmful queries. Limitations: The study has limitations (e.g., possible validity threats of the query share measure, use of ambiguous search terms). Conclusion: Online suicide prevention efforts should try to increase online users' awareness of and motivation to seek help, for which Google's own helpline box could play an even more crucial role in the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S235-S235
Author(s):  
Jooyoung Kong ◽  
Yin Liu ◽  
David Almeida

Abstract Extensive evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to negative health effects across a lifetime. This study examines the impact of ACEs on the frequency of providing daily support (i.e., unpaid assistance, emotional support, and disability-related assistance) to family members and the moderating effects of ACEs in the association between providing daily support to family and daily negative affect. Using the National Study of Daily Experiences II, we analyzed a total of 14,912 daily interviews from 2,022 respondents aged 56 on average. Key results showed that a greater number of ACEs were associated with providing more frequent emotional support to family. We also found the significant interaction effect that adults with more ACEs showed greater negative affect on the days when they provided assistance to family members with disabilities. The findings underscore the long-term negative impact of ACEs on daily well-being in the context of family relationships.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Imke Matthys ◽  
Justine Defreyne ◽  
Els Elaut ◽  
Alessandra Daphne Fisher ◽  
Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels ◽  
...  

Improving transgender people’s quality of life (QoL) is the most important goal of gender-affirming care. Prospective changes in affect can influence QoL. We aim to assess the impact of initiating gender-affirming hormonal treatment (HT) on affect. In the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI) study, we prospectively collected data of 873 participants (451 transwomen (TW) and 422 transmen (TM)). At baseline, psychological questionnaires including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were administered. The PANAS, levels of sex steroids and physical changes were registered at each follow-up visit during a 3-year follow-up period, starting at the initiation of hormonal therapy. Data were analyzed cross-sectionally and prospectively. Over the first three months, we observed a decline in positive affect (PA) in both TM and TW. Thereafter, PA reached a steady state in TW, whereas in TM there was also a second decline at 18 months. In both TM and TW there was no persisting difference comparing baseline to the 36-months results. Concerning negative affect (NA), we observed a decline during the first year in TM, which sustained during the second year and was not different anymore at 36 months compared to baseline. In TW though, we did not find any change of NA during the entire follow-up. Even if some of these results show significant differences, they should be considered with caution, since there was no control group and the absolute differences are small. No association between affect and the level of sex steroids was observed. Baseline QoL and psychological burden are related to affect independently from gender but are not necessarily good predictors of the evolution of one’s affect during the gender-affirming process. Further research is necessary to investigate these preliminary results.


2011 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. AB400
Author(s):  
Stacy B. Menees ◽  
Eric E. Elliott ◽  
Shail M. Govani ◽  
Stephanie L. Judd ◽  
Sameer D. Saini ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Andrea A. Joyce ◽  
Grace M. Styklunas ◽  
Nancy A. Rigotti ◽  
Jordan M. Neil ◽  
Elyse R. Park ◽  
...  

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US adults’ smoking and quitting behaviors is unclear. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on smoking behaviors, risk perceptions, and reactions to text messages during a statewide stay-at-home advisory among primary care patients who were trying to quit. From May–June 2020, we interviewed smokers enrolled in a 12-week, pilot cessation trial providing text messaging and mailed nicotine replacement medication (NCT04020718). Twenty-two individuals (82% white, mean age 55 years), representing 88% of trial participants during the stay-at-home advisory, completed exit interviews; four (18%) of them reported abstinence. Interviews were thematically analyzed by two coders. COVID-19-induced environmental changes had mixed effects, facilitating quitting for some and impeding quitting for others. While stress increased for many, those who quit found ways to cope with stress. Generally, participants felt at risk for COVID-19 complications but not at increased risk of becoming infected. Reactions to COVID-19 and quitting behaviors differed across age groups, older participants reported difficulties coping with isolation (e.g., feeling disappointed when a text message came from the study and not a live person). Findings suggest that cessation interventions addressing stress and boredom are needed during COVID-19, while smokers experiencing isolation may benefit from live-person supports.


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