Genetic Counseling for Breast Cancer Susceptibility in African American Women
Abstract
Increasingly, the cultural beliefs and values of women are being recognized as important factors in genetic counseling for breast cancer susceptibility. Despite recommendations to increase the cultural sensitivity of genetic counseling, such programs have not been developed or evaluated. The objectives of this study are to develop a Culturally Tailored Genetic (CTGC) protocol for African American women and evaluate its impact on decision-making and satisfaction about BRCA1/2 testing, quality of life, and cancer control practices. A secondary objective of this study is to identify African American women who are most and lest likely to benefit from CTGC vs. SGC. The key research accomplishments achieved during the past year include continuing subject recruitment, completing genetic counseling and education, and generating peer-reviewed manuscripts. The results generated during the past year demonstrate that it is possible to enroll African American women into genetic counseling research. Our findings also demonstrate that African American women at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer report positive attitudes about the benefits of genetic testing; however, these attitudes may not translate into high levels of interest in testing. CTGC may be one strategy for addressing beliefs about genetic testing and facilitating testing decisions among African American women.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA433977
Entities
People
- Chanita Hughes
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania