The Impact of the Myriad Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Campaign for BRCA1/2 Genetic Testing in the Greater Cincinnati Area
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: To describe the impact of the Myriad Genetics direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) campaign for BRCA genetic testing on a Hereditary Cancer Program (HCP) in Cincinnati, Ohio.Methods: Patient data was extracted from the HCP Database from two time periods, August 2008-March 2009 (DTCA campaign not in effect) and August 2009-March 2010 (DTCA campaign in effect).Patient demographics, risk assessment, and genetic testing uptake between these time periods were compared for patients referred for BRCA-related genetic services and non-BRCA-related genetic services.Results:Demographics (age, race, religion, education, marital status, and personal cancer diagnosis) did not differ between the time periods for either the BRCA or non-BRCA populations.There was an increased proportion of patients receiving a low risk (<7%) assessment for a BRCA mutation during the DTCA campaign (28%) versus pre-DTCA campaign (17%), a decreased proportion receiving a moderate risk (7-20%) assessment for a BRCA mutation (49% during and 57% pre-DTCA) and no differences in the proportion receiving a high risk (> 20%) assessment for a BRCA mutation (χ 2 2 =10.087, p=.0065).The proportion of individuals declining BRCA testing was higher during the DTCA campaign (20%), compared to the pre-DTCA time period (9%)(χ 1 2 =16.822, p=<.0001).We did not observe significant differences in mutation based risk-assessment or testing uptake in the non-BRCA related patient population.Conclusion: Patients seen in the HCP during the DTCA campaign for indications related to BRCA testing were at an overall lower risk for carrying a genetic mutation for a hereditary cancer syndrome and were less likely to pursue genetic testing.These results were not seen in the non-BRCA related patient population suggesting they may be a result of the Myriad DTCA campaign.This information may help predict trends in patient populations seen by similar programs in areas targeted by future Myriad DTCA campaigns.iii
Author: Jessica K. Pack
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2605510498