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 primary objectives of this study are to develop a Culturally Tailored Genetic Counseling (CTGC) protocol for African American women and to evaluate its impact on decision making and satisfaction about BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing, quality of life, and cancer control practices. A secondary objective of the study is to identify African American women who are most and least likely to benefit from CTGC vs. Standard Genetic Counseling (SGC). The key research accomplishments achieved during the past year include continuing an active program of subject recruitment, completing genetic counseling and education, and generating peer-reviewed manuscripts. The results generated during the past year demonstrate that while rates of test result acceptance may be low among African American women, the majority of women are extremely satisfied with genetic counseling. Satisfaction with culturally tailored genetic counseling may be especially high among some African American women at increased risk for hereditary disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA459270
Entities
People
- Chanita Hughes
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania