Explaining, not just predicting, drives interest in personal genomics

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Medical Genetics
• Consumer Health

Background:

• Customer interest in personal genomic testing (PGT) is often assumed to be driven solely by risk prediction.
• An alternative motivation for PGT is understanding the genetic basis of existing diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how a pre-existing medical diagnosis influences customer interest in condition-specific results from PGT.
• To explore the explanatory value of PGT for individuals with diagnosed health conditions.

Main Methods:

• A prospective online survey was administered to PGT customers before they received their results.
• Customer interest in PGT for 11 specific health conditions was measured.
• Logistic regression analysis examined the association between personal medical history and interest in condition-specific PGT.

Main Results:

• Data from 1,538 PGT customers (mean age 48.7, 61% female, 90% White) were analyzed.
• Interest in condition-specific PGT varied widely, from 28% for ulcerative colitis to 68% for heart disease.
• Having a diagnosis significantly increased interest in genetic testing for that condition (ORs 2.07-19.99), even after adjusting for demographics and family history.

Conclusions:

• PGT customers show a strong interest in genetic markers related to their current medical diagnoses.
• The findings suggest PGT provides significant explanatory value for existing conditions, complementing its predictive capabilities.
• Understanding the genetic etiology of diseases is a key driver for PGT engagement.