Original Paper

Awareness of Genetic Testing for Cancer among United States Hispanics: The Role of Acculturation
Julia E. Heck^{a, b}, Rebeca Franco^b, Janine M. Jurkowski^d, Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin^a-c

Departments of
^aEpidemiology and
^bHealth and Behavior Studies, and
^cHerbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., and
^dDepartment of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, University at Albany, Albany, N.Y., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Community Genet 2008;11:36-42 (DOI: 10.1159/000111638)

  Key Words

• Acculturation
• Ethnic groups
• Genetic screening
• Health services, accessibility
• Hispanic Americans

  Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine how acculturation affected awareness of genetic testing for cancer among Hispanic Americans. Methods: Subjects were 10,883 Hispanic respondents from the 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview Surveys. Acculturation was measured with language use and the length of time subjects had lived in the US. Weighted logistic regression was used to determine subjects' awareness of genetic susceptibility testing. Results: Greater use of English (adjusted odds ratio, OR = 1.25, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.15-1.36) was associated with increased awareness of genetic testing. Residence in the US for less than 5 years (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.83) was associated with lower awareness of testing. Conclusions: To better inform diverse American groups about genetic testing, intercultural variations and language skills must be taken into account.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin, PhD
Health and Behavior Studies
TC Box 139
New York, NY 10027 (USA)
Tel. +1 212 678 4024, Fax +1 212 678 4125, E-Mail ssg19@columbia.edu

  Article Information

Published online: January 15, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 50