ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess beliefs about the role of diet in cancer prevention among individuals considering genetic testing for Lynch Syndrome. DESIGN: Family-centered, cascade recruitment; baseline assessment of a longitudinal study. SETTING: Clinical research setting. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 390 persons, ages 18 and older, including persons with a Lynch Syndrome-associated cancer and suspected of carrying a disease causing mutation, and relatives at risk for inheriting a previously identified mutation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assess clustering of beliefs about the role of diet in cancer prevention and predictors of class membership. ANALYSIS: Confirmatory factor analysis; 2-class factor mixture model with binary indicators; multilevel regression analyses, individuals nested within families. RESULTS: Women endorsed a relationship between diet and cancer prevention more often than men (P < .01). A 2-class model was used where Class 1 indicated less likely to link cancer to diet, and Class 2 indicated more likely. Factors associated with increased odds of membership in Class 1 expressed belief that nothing can prevent cancer (P < .01) and fate attribution (P < .01); Class 2 mentioned personal cancer history (P < .05) and genetic knowledge (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Identifying factors associated with a belief in cancer prevention through dietary behaviors can inform targeted interventions.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis/prevention & control , Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis/psychology , Diet , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Colonic Neoplasms/prevention & control , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Fruit , Genetic Testing , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Vegetables , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Mutations in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 cause achondroplasia, the most prevalent form of dwarfism. Since the discovery of the mutations and gene in 1994, commercial testing has been available for use in prenatal diagnosis. This study sought to determine the awareness of, interest in and use of prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia. METHODS: Surveys were collected from both individuals affected with achondroplasia (n = 189) and their average statured relatives (n = 136). RESULTS: The majority of participants were aware of the prenatal genetic testing at the time they were surveyed, but less than 10% had actually used the testing. Affected individuals were much more interested in using the testing if they became pregnant (62%) than were their relatives (28%). The groups were remarkably similar in their interest in using the testing to identify the lethal, homozygous form of achondroplasia and in their unwillingness to consider termination of pregnancies based on a diagnosis of either achondroplasia or average stature. Affected status and perception of the condition were correlated with the importance placed on knowing the prenatal diagnoses of achondroplasia and average stature. Views on abortion were highly correlated with all aspects of interest in prenatal diagnosis for achondroplasia. CONCLUSION: These results elucidate the role of selected attitudes and beliefs that contribute to reproductive decision making about achondroplasia. Furthermore, the findings provide insights into education and counseling issues for families and health care practitioners.
