Predictive genetics in primary care: expectations for the motivational impact of genetic testing affects the importance family physicians place on screening for familial cancer risk.

Abstract

To investigate whether the importance family physicians place on familial cancer-risk screening is influenced by expectations for the motivational impact of a high-risk genetic test result. Mailed survey of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians. Respondents expected patients would increase pursuit of screening for cancer (99.6%) and other diseases (89.9%), quit smoking (93.6%), and improve diet/exercise (92.5%). The degree of motivational effect was significantly related to the importance they place on screening. Family physicians believe that a high-risk cancer genetic-test result would motivate their patients to pursue risk-reduction behavior, and this belief is related to the importance they place on screening their patients for an inherited risk of cancer.