Worry and attitude of men in at‐risk families for prostate cancer about genetic susceptibility and genetic testing

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate worry about genetic susceptibility and the attitude of men with family history of prostate cancer (CaP) toward genetic testing. METHODS: Three hundred seventy-five eligible first-degree relatives (FDR) of men with CaP, were asked to participate in a screening and to fill out a survey covering the worry about genetic susceptibility and interest in genetic testing. RESULTS: Of the 375 candidates contacted, 277 completed the survey, and had undergone PSA measurement. Sixty-four percent worried a little or not at all about inherited predisposition to CaP, while the remainder worried a lot or extremely. The candidates who worried a lot or extremely were men with high levels of durable anxiety disposition (STAI trait), who had undergone a previous screening procedure and men with sons. Ninety-eight percent of men expressed their interest in undergoing genetic testing. The most motivated candidates to have the test done were men with several relatives with CaP. CONCLUSIONS: The level of worry about genetic susceptibility was low and there was a concrete interest in genetic testing in FDR of men with CaP. This interest increased with the number of CaP in the family.