Table 2.
Differences in topics related to DNA testing and benefits and limitations of DTC DNA testing among 100 DTC DNA websites related by the number of DTC DNA products mentioned dichotomized at the mean: 0–5 vs. > 5
| Characteristics | Total | No. of commercial DTC DNA products mentioned | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 | > 5 | |||
| Mentions uses or considerations for DTC DNA testing | ||||
| Family or heredity | 0.20 | |||
| Yes | 75 (75.0) | 51 (70.8) | 24 (85.7) | |
| No | 25 (25.0) | 21 (29.2) | 4 (14.3) | |
| Age | 0.50 | |||
| Yes | 11 (11.0) | 7 (9.7) | 4 914.3) | |
| No | 89 (89.0) | 65 (90.3) | 24 (85.7) | |
| Race | 0.80 | |||
| Yes | 25 (25.0) | 19 (26.4) | 6 (21.4) | |
| No | 75 (75.0) | 53 (3.6) | 22 (78.6) | |
| Gender | 0.50 | |||
| Yes | 12 (12.0) | 10 913.9) | 2 (7.1) | |
| No | 88 (88.0) | 62 (86.1) | 26 (92.9) | |
| Mentions of the benefits of DTC DNA testing | ||||
| Promotes awareness of genetic disease | 0.20 | |||
| Yes | 77 (77.0) | 53 (73.6) | 24 (85.7) | |
| No | 23 (23.0) | 19 (26.4) | 4 (14.3) | |
| Can result in being more proactive about one’s health | 0.59 | |||
| Yes | 60 (60.0) | 42 (58.3) | 18 (64.3) | |
| No | 40 (40.0) | 30 (41.7) | 10 (35.7) | |
| Provides personalized info about health and links to family disease risk and other traits | 0.02 | |||
| Yes | 68 (68.0) | 44 (61.1) | 24 (85.7) | |
| No | 32 (32.0) | 28 (38.9) | 4 (14.3) | |
| Can lead to the location of family members or ancestors | 0.03 | |||
| Yes | 62 (62.0) | 40 (55.6) | 22 (78.6) | |
| No | 38 (38.0) | 32 (44.4) | 6 (21.4) | |
| DTC DNA databases have been utilized by law enforcement to track suspects or relatives of suspects | 0.01 | |||
| Yes | 16 (16.0) | 7 (9.7) | 9 (32.1) | |
| No | 84 (84.0) | 65 (90.3) | 19 (67.9) | |
| Mentions the limitations of DTC DNA testing | ||||
| May or may not pinpoint any health conditions/traits that are of interest to the individual | 0.81 | |||
| Yes | 59 (59.0) | 43 (59.7) | 16 (57.1) | |
| No | 41 (41.0) | 29 (40.3) | 12 (42.9) | |
| Cannot definitively tell the probability of developing a specific disease | 0.84 | |||
| Yes | 48 (48.0) | 35 (48.6) | 13 (46.4) | |
| No | 52 (52.0) | 37 (51.4) | 15 (53.6) | |
| May provide unexpected information about health, family relationships, or ancestry | 0.94 | |||
| Yes | 47 (47.0) | 34 (47.2) | 13 (46.4) | |
| No | 53 (53.0) | 38 (62.8) | 15 (53.6) | |
| Results may be stressful or life changing | 0.19 | |||
| Yes | 35 (35.0) | 28 (38.9) | 7 (25.0) | |
| No | 65 (65.0) | 44 (61.1) | 21 (75.0) | |
| May lead to decision-making based on inaccurate, incomplete, or misunderstood information | 0.45 | |||
| Yes | 38 (38.0) | 29(40.3) | 9 (32.1) | |
| No | 62 (62.0) | 43 (59.7) | 19 (67.9) | |
| Results can be misleading or not have enough scientific evidence to link a particular genetic variation to a disease/trait | 0.24 | |||
| Yes | 45 (45.0) | 35 (48.6) | 10 (35.7) | |
| No | 55 (55.0) | 37 (51.4) | 18 (64.3) | |
| DTC DNA results can reveal information that is directly relevant to family members who may not want to learn that information. Ethical dilemmas may arise, especially in cancer-related risks | 0.55 | |||
| Yes | 15 (15.0) | 12 (16.7) | 3 (10.7) | |
| No | 85 (85.0) | 60 (83.3) | 25 (89.3) | |
| Genetic information privacy may be compromised due to data breach or unauthorized use | 0.04 | |||
| Yes | 31 (31.0) | 18 (25.0) | 13 (46.4) | |
| No | 69 (69.0) | 54 (75.0) | 15 (53.6) | |
| DTC DNA results may impact the ability to obtain life, disability, health, or long-term care insurance | 0.74 | |||
| Yes | 12 (12.0) | 8 (11.1) | 4 (14.3) | |
| No | 88 (88.0) | 64 (88.9) | 24 (85.7) | |