Worry and attitude of men in at‐risk families for prostate cancer about genetic susceptibility and genetic testing

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Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate worry about genetic susceptibility and the attitude of men with family history of prostate cancer (CaP) toward genetic testing. METHODS Three hundred seventy-five eligible first-degree relatives (FDR) of men with CaP, were asked to participate in a screening and to fill out a survey covering the worry about genetic susceptibility and interest in genetic testing. RESULTS Of the 375 candidates contacted, 277 completed the survey, and had undergone PSA measurement. Sixty-four percent worried a little or not at all about inherited predisposition to CaP, while the remainder worried a lot or extremely. The candidates who worried a lot or extremely were men with high levels of durable anxiety disposition (STAI trait), who had undergone a previous screening procedure and men with sons. Ninety-eight percent of men expressed their interest in undergoing genetic testing. The most motivated candidates to have the test done were men with several relatives with CaP. CONCLUSIONS The level of worry about genetic susceptibility was low and there was a concrete interest in genetic testing in FDR of men with CaP. This interest increased with the number of CaP in the family. Prostate 51: 276–285, 2002.

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