1. Association between temporal orientation and attitudes about BRCA1/2 testing among women of African descent with family histories of breast cancer.
- Author
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Edwards TA, Thompson HS, Kwate NO, Brown K, McGovern MM, Forman A, Kapil-Pair N, Jandorf L, Bovbjerg DH, and Valdimarsdottir HB
- Subjects
- Adult, Black or African American education, Black or African American genetics, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Breast Neoplasms diagnosis, Female, Genes, BRCA1, Genes, BRCA2, Genetic Predisposition to Disease genetics, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Mutation genetics, New York, Orientation, Regression Analysis, Socioeconomic Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, Women education, Black or African American ethnology, Breast Neoplasms genetics, Genetic Testing methods, Genetic Testing psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care ethnology, Time Perception, Women psychology
- Abstract
Objective: Previous studies have identified specific attitudes (pros and cons) about BRCA testing held by women of African descent that are associated with decisions to participate in testing. These testing attitudes may be determined, in part, by temporal orientation, or how one perceives the significance of events and the consequences of their actions in terms of past, present, and future. The current study explored the relationship between temporal orientation and pros and cons of BRCA testing among 140 women of African descent with a family history suggestive of a genetic mutation predisposing to breast cancer., Methods: Participants completed measures of temporal orientation and genetic testing attitudes., Results: Multivariate analyses indicated that future orientation was positively associated with perceived pros of testing. Additional analyses revealed significant associations between temporal orientation and specific item subsets related to the negative and positive impact of testing on family and personal control over one's health., Conclusion: These results support an association between temporal orientation and attitudes about BRCA testing among women of African descent with family histories of breast cancer., Practice Implications: Findings support exploration of temporal orientation in future research on BRCA testing decisions among women of African descent and this construct's importance in developing decision aids and tailoring genetic counseling.
- Published
- 2008
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