Kyle W Davis1, Debra L Roter2, Tara Schmidlen3, Laura B Scheinfeldt4, William M P Klein5. 1. Lineagen, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, USA. Electronic address: kyle.walter.davis@gmail.com. 2. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. 3. Geisinger, Genomic Medicine Institute, Danville, USA; Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, USA. 4. Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, USA. 5. Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, USA; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA; Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a genetic report format using risk communication "best-practices" on risk perceptions, in part to reduce risk overestimates. METHODS: Adults (N = 470) from the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative (CPMC) were randomized to a 2 × 2 experimental design to receive a hypothetical "personalized" genetic risk result for leukemia (relative risk = 1.5 or 2.5) through either the standard CPMC report (N = 232) or an enriched report informed by best practices (N = 238). A one-time, online survey assessed numeracy and risk perceptions including "feelings of risk" and a numerical estimate. RESULTS: Regardless of numeracy, participants who received the enriched report had fewer overestimates of their lifetime risk estimate (LRE; odds ratio = 0.19, p < .001) and lower feelings of risk on two of three measures (p < .001). Participants with higher numeracy scores had fewer overestimates of LRE (OR = 0.66, p < .001) and lower feelings of risk on two out of three measures (p ≤ .01); the interaction between numeracy and report format was non-significant. CONCLUSION: The enriched report produced more accurate LRE and lower risk perceptions regardless of numeracy level, suggesting the enriched format was helpful to individuals irrespective of numeracy ability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Best practice elements in risk reports may help individuals form more accurate risk perceptions.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a genetic report format using risk communication "best-practices" on risk perceptions, in part to reduce risk overestimates. METHODS: Adults (N = 470) from the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative (CPMC) were randomized to a 2 × 2 experimental design to receive a hypothetical "personalized" genetic risk result for leukemia (relative risk = 1.5 or 2.5) through either the standard CPMC report (N = 232) or an enriched report informed by best practices (N = 238). A one-time, online survey assessed numeracy and risk perceptions including "feelings of risk" and a numerical estimate. RESULTS: Regardless of numeracy, participants who received the enriched report had fewer overestimates of their lifetime risk estimate (LRE; odds ratio = 0.19, p < .001) and lower feelings of risk on two of three measures (p < .001). Participants with higher numeracy scores had fewer overestimates of LRE (OR = 0.66, p < .001) and lower feelings of risk on two out of three measures (p ≤ .01); the interaction between numeracy and report format was non-significant. CONCLUSION: The enriched report produced more accurate LRE and lower risk perceptions regardless of numeracy level, suggesting the enriched format was helpful to individuals irrespective of numeracy ability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Best practice elements in risk reports may help individuals form more accurate risk perceptions.
Authors: Deanna G Brockman; Lia Petronio; Jacqueline S Dron; Bum Chul Kwon; Trish Vosburg; Lisa Nip; Andrew Tang; Mary O'Reilly; Niall Lennon; Bang Wong; Kenney Ng; Katherine H Huang; Akl C Fahed; Amit V Khera Journal: BMC Med Genomics Date: 2021-10-01 Impact factor: 3.622