Effect of superstitious beliefs and risk intuitions on genetic test decisions Journal Article


Authors: Riley, K. E.; Sussman, A. L.; Schofield, E.; Guest, D. D.; Dailey, Y. T.; Schwartz, M. R.; Buller, D. B.; Hunley, K.; Kaphingst, K. A.; Berwick, M.; Hay, J. L.
Article Title: Effect of superstitious beliefs and risk intuitions on genetic test decisions
Abstract: Introduction: Moving beyond numeric representations of risk perceptions, we examine cognitive causation, or superstitious thinking, and negative affect in risk as predictors of MC1R (i.e., moderate v. high risk) skin cancer genetic testing and responses to this testing. Methods: Participants (N = 496) completed baseline assessments using validated measures of cognitive causation (beliefs that thinking about cancer risk increases cancer likelihood) and negative affect in risk (negative feelings generated during risk perception) and subsequently received a test offer. Participants could access a website to learn about and request genetic testing. Those who tested (n = 167) completed assessments of cognitive and affective reactions 2 wk after testing, including the Impact of Events–Revised Intrusive thoughts subscale. Results: Those with higher negative affect in risk were less likely to return a saliva sample for testing (odds ratio = 0.98, 95% confidence interval = 0.96–0.99). Those with higher cognitive causation reported more fear (b = 0.28–0.31; P 's < 0.05). Higher negative affect in risk was associated with more emotion-laden test responses, particularly in those receiving higher-risk as compared with average-risk results. Conclusion: Negative affect in risk did not hamper test information seeking, although it did inhibit the uptake of genetic testing. Those with higher cognitive causation showed more fear regarding their test result, as indicated by higher distress in those who received average-risk results and lower believability in those who received higher-risk results.
Keywords: melanoma; odds ratio; risk assessment; confidence intervals; decision making; genetic screening; descriptive statistics; scales; logistic regression; health beliefs; human; superstitions
Journal Title: Medical Decision Making
Volume: 42
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0272-989X
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 2022-04-01
Start Page: 398
End Page: 403
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/0272989x211029272
PROVIDER: EBSCOhost
PROVIDER: cinahl
PMCID: PMC8882703
PUBMED: 34455851
DOI/URL:
Notes: Accession Number: 155755771 -- Entry Date: 20220324 -- Revision Date: 20220324 -- Publication Type: Article; research; tables/charts -- Journal Subset: Biomedical; Peer Reviewed; USA -- Instrumentation: Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) -- NLM UID: 8109073. -- Source: Cinahl
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Jennifer L Hay
    264 Hay
  2. Elizabeth A Schofield
    161 Schofield