Public attitudes towards the genetic testing in Georgia

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Public Health
• Bioethics

Background:

• Genetic testing offers valuable insights into inherited conditions.
• Understanding public attitudes is crucial for implementing genetic services effectively.
• Georgian public's perspective on genetic testing remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the attitudes of the Georgian public towards various aspects of genetic testing.
• To identify preferences regarding the types of genetic tests and their applications.
• To assess concerns about potential societal impacts of genetic testing.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• A Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to 480 respondents.
• Data analysis focused on descriptive statistics of attitudes and preferences.

Main Results:

• A significant majority (75.3%) expressed curiosity about predictive genetic testing.
• 40.6% preferred testing only for treatable or preventable disorders.
• High interest was noted for newborn screening (65%) and preconception carrier screening (73%).
• Most participants (59%) did not fear increased stigmatization of individuals with disabilities.

Conclusions:

• The Georgian public demonstrates a strong interest in and perceived value of genetic testing and genomic information.
• There is a clear preference for genetic testing focused on actionable health outcomes.
• Public attitudes suggest a readiness to adopt genetic screening technologies, with minimal concern regarding social stigma.