Skin Cancer Concerns and Genetic Risk Information-Seeking in Primary Care

Abstract

Background: Genomic testing for common genetic variants associated with skin cancer risk could enable personalized risk feedback to motivate skin cancer screening and sun protection. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we investigated whether skin cancer cognitions and behavioral factors, sociodemographics, family factors, and health information-seeking were related to perceived importance of learning about how (a) genes and (b) health habits affect personal health risks using classification and regression trees (CART). Results: The sample (n = 1,772) was collected in a large health maintenance organization as part of the Multiplex Initiative, ranged in age from 25–40, was 53% female, 41% Caucasian, and 59% African-American. Most reported that they placed somewhat to very high importance on learning about how genes (79%) and health habits (88%) affect their health risks. Social influence actors were associated with information-seeking about genes and health habits. Awareness of family history was associated with importance of health habit, but not genetic, information-seeking. Conclusions: The investment of family and friends in health promotion may be a primary motivator for prioritizing information-seeking about how genes and health habits affect personal health risks and may contribute to the personal value, or personal utility, of risk information. Individuals who seek such risk information may be receptive to interventions aimed to maximize the social implications of healthy lifestyle change to reduce their health risks.

Association of glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) Ile105Val polymorphism with the risk of skin cancer: a meta-analysis

“…The present meta-analysis, involving a total of 1504 cases and 2243 controls from 13 case-control studies examined the association of GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism with the risk of skin cancer in Caucasian population. Although we did not limit the ethnicity during search the literature, which might correlate with skin cancer is less common in dark-skinned ethnic groups [11,12]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to explore GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism and the risk of skin cancer.…”

“…However, the definitive cause has yet to be elucidated. Current studies suggest that skin cancer is a multifactorial disease that likely involves both environmental carcinogens and genetic factors [12,20,39]. Many environmental carcinogens require activation by phase I metabolizing enzymes and detoxification by phase II enzymes [35].…”

Relationships Between Health Literacy and Genomics-Related Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, Perceived Importance, and Communication in a Medically Underserved Population

“…We also examined three psychosocial covariates. We assessed social influences with the item “The people who mean the most to you think you should learn more about ways you can keep yourself healthy,” which had a seven-point response scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (Hay et al, 2012). We assessed perceived control using three items (i.e., “There’s a lot I can do to prevent heart disease”), which had five-point response scales from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (Wang et al, 2009).…”

Psychosocial and Clinical Factors Associated with Family Communication of Cancer Genetic Test Results among Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at a Young Age

“…We assessed informational norms with two items: “the people who mean the most to me think I should learn more about ways I can keep myself healthy” and “how motivated you would say you are to do what these people want you to do?” (Hay et al, 2012). Participants responded on seven point Likert-type scales.…”