Table 2.
Characteristics of the Sample by Knowledge and Use of Genetic Testing for Cancer
| Heard of genetic testing | Discussed genetic testing with physician | Advised by physician to have genetic test | Received a genetic test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample (denominator) | 29,326a | 11,215b | 640c | 11,206d |
| Population (weighted) sample (denominator) | 203,759,634 | 81,915,533 | 4,555,959 | 81,851,727 |
| Overall | 40.2% | 5.6% | 36.9% | 1.4% |
| Number of first-degree relatives or subject with a BRCA- or Lynch-associated cancer (age of onset)e | ||||
| None | 38.6% | 4.2% | 31.0% | 1.0% |
| 1 (age ≥50 years) | 48.6% | 9.1% | 42.0% | 2.1% |
| 1 (age <50 years) | 47.9% | 12.1% | 45.6% | 3.8% |
| ≥2 | 49.5% | 14.8% | 53.4% | 4.5% |
| <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.005 | <0.0001 | |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 36.5% | 4.4% | 32.0% | 1.2% |
| Female | 43.7% | 6.5% | 39.5% | 1.5% |
| <0.0001 | 0.0001 | 0.08 | 0.23 | |
| Age (years) | ||||
| 18–39 | 36.7% | 6.3% | 33.0% | 1.4% |
| 40–49 | 44.5% | 6.0% | 37.3% | 1.6% |
| 50–59 | 48.1% | 5.1% | 42.6% | 1.1% |
| 60–69 | 45.4% | 4.6% | 36.5% | 1.4% |
| ≥70 | 28.8% | 3.7% | 46.8% | 1.4% |
| <0.0001 | 0.007 | 0.33 | 0.77 | |
| Race/ethnicity | ||||
| Hispanic | 17.7% | 10.9% | 59.0% | 4.4% |
| African-American, other non-Hispanic | 28.8% | 6.1% | 32.3% | 1.6% |
| White, non-Hispanic | 46.7% | 5.1% | 34.5% | 1.2% |
| <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.001 | 0.0005 | |
| Educationf | ||||
| <High school grad | 18.1% | 7.3% | 44.8% | 2.2% |
| High school grad | 31.7% | 5.6% | 42.2% | 1.4% |
| Some college | 45.5% | 5.0% | 34.2% | 1.3% |
| College grad | 58.6% | 5.7% | 33.8% | 1.3% |
| <0.0001 | 0.21 | 0.27 | 0.42 | |
| Marital statusf | ||||
| Married/living with partner | 43.0% | 5.5% | 35.7% | 1.3% |
| Not married | 35.6% | 5.6% | 39.2% | 1.5% |
| <0.0001 | 0.92 | 0.40 | 0.50 | |
| Body mass indexf | ||||
| Underweight/normal | 41.1% | 5.8% | 30.1% | 1.1% |
| Overweight | 40.7% | 5.3% | 40.0% | 1.4% |
| Obese | 39.0% | 5.6% | 43.6% | 1.9% |
| 0.07 | 0.70 | 0.01 | 0.08 | |
| Number of comorbid conditions | ||||
| None | 37.1% | 5.4% | 32.3% | 1.2% |
| 1 | 44.8% | 6.3% | 38.7% | 1.6% |
| 2 | 43.2% | 5.4% | 42.2% | 1.2% |
| ≥3 | 37.5% | 4.5% | 42.8% | 1.8% |
| <0.0001 | 0.14 | 0.27 | 0.36 | |
| Personal history of cancer | ||||
| No cancer | 39.8% | 5.0% | 32.7% | 1.1% |
| BRCA-/Lynch-associated cancere | 46.6% | 18.9% | 59.0% | 9.6% |
| Other cancer | 46.0% | 9.4% | 56.8% | 3.5% |
| <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.0003 | <0.0001 | |
| Current smokerf | ||||
| Yes | 36.8% | 5.9% | 36.2% | 1.3% |
| No | 41.2% | 5.5% | 37.1% | 1.4% |
| <0.0001 | 0.53 | 0.85 | 0.59 | |
| Self-perceived poor healthf | ||||
| Yes | 29.8% | 6.9% | 49.6% | 2.9% |
| No | 41.7% | 5.4% | 35.4% | 1.2% |
| <0.0001 | 0.09 | 0.04 | 0.002 | |
| Born in USf | ||||
| Yes | 43.6% | 5.4% | 35.9% | 1.4% |
| No | 21.9% | 6.8% | 45.3% | 1.6% |
| <0.0001 | 0.11 | 0.18 | 0.59 | |
| Region | ||||
| Northeast | 43.2% | 6.2% | 41.0% | 1.5% |
| Midwest | 45.3% | 5.3% | 32.8% | 1.4% |
| West | 40.0% | 6.6% | 41.0% | 1.5% |
| South | 35.4% | 4.8% | 34.3% | 1.2% |
| <0.0001 | 0.04 | 0.34 | 0.73 | |
Percentages are weighted. P-values are from chi-square tests. a2,102 missing from ever heard of genetic testing
bDenominator is subjects who heard of genetic testing, 6 missing
cDenominator is subjects who discussed genetic testing with a physician
dDenominator is subjects who had heard of genetic testing, 15 missing
eCancers included: breast, ovarian (BRCA), colorectal, uterine (Lynch)
fMissing: education, 355; marital status, 165; BMI, 1,430; current smoker, 277; self-perceived poor health, 15; born in US, 27