TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge, attitudes and behavior of physicians regarding predictive genetic tests for breast and colorectal cancer
AU - Marzuillo, Carolina
AU - De Vito, Corrado
AU - Boccia, Stefania
AU - D'Addario, Maddalena
AU - D'Andrea, Elvira
AU - Santini, Paola
AU - Boccia, Antonio
AU - Villari, Paolo
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - BACKGROUND: Genetic testing for cancer susceptibility is an emerging technology in medicine. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and professional behavior of Italian physicians regarding the use of predictive genetic tests for breast and colorectal cancer, including the BRCA1/2 and APC tests.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Italian physicians was performed in 2010 through a self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: A response rate of 69.6% (1079 questionnaires) was achieved. A significant lack of knowledge was detected, particularly for APC testing. Less than half of the physicians agreed on the importance of efficacy and cost-effectiveness evidence in the selection of predictive genetic tests to be offered to the patients. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that education had a positive influence on knowledge, attitudes and, to a lesser extent, professional use. The factor most strongly related to the physicians' use of genetic testing was patients requests for breast (odds ratio=12.65; 95% confidence interval 7.77-20.59) or colorectal cancer tests (odds ratio=7.02; 95% confidence interval 3.61-13.64). A high level of interest for specific training was reported by almost all physicians surveyed.
CONCLUSIONS: Targeted educational programs are needed to improve the expertise of physicians, and, ultimately, to enhance the appropriate use of genetic tests in clinical practice.
AB - BACKGROUND: Genetic testing for cancer susceptibility is an emerging technology in medicine. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and professional behavior of Italian physicians regarding the use of predictive genetic tests for breast and colorectal cancer, including the BRCA1/2 and APC tests.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Italian physicians was performed in 2010 through a self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: A response rate of 69.6% (1079 questionnaires) was achieved. A significant lack of knowledge was detected, particularly for APC testing. Less than half of the physicians agreed on the importance of efficacy and cost-effectiveness evidence in the selection of predictive genetic tests to be offered to the patients. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that education had a positive influence on knowledge, attitudes and, to a lesser extent, professional use. The factor most strongly related to the physicians' use of genetic testing was patients requests for breast (odds ratio=12.65; 95% confidence interval 7.77-20.59) or colorectal cancer tests (odds ratio=7.02; 95% confidence interval 3.61-13.64). A high level of interest for specific training was reported by almost all physicians surveyed.
CONCLUSIONS: Targeted educational programs are needed to improve the expertise of physicians, and, ultimately, to enhance the appropriate use of genetic tests in clinical practice.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Cancer predictive genetic tests
KW - Cross-sectional survey
KW - Knowledge
KW - Physicians
KW - Professional behavior
KW - Attitudes
KW - Cancer predictive genetic tests
KW - Cross-sectional survey
KW - Knowledge
KW - Physicians
KW - Professional behavior
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/51903
U2 - 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.06.022
DO - 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.06.022
M3 - Article
SN - 0091-7435
VL - 57
SP - 477
EP - 482
JO - Preventive Medicine
JF - Preventive Medicine
ER -