Many do not share personal genetic testing results with PCP

(HealthDay)—Many individuals who undergo direct-to-consumer (DTC) personal genomic testing (PGT) do not share the results with their primary care provider (PCP), according to research published online March 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Cathelijne H. van der Wouden, from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and colleagues describe the characteristics and perceptions of DTC PGT consumers who discuss their results with their PCP. Participants were surveyed before and six months after results. Data were included for 1,026 respondents.

The researchers found that 63 percent of respondents planned to share their results with a PCP. At the six-month follow-up, 27 and 8 percent reported having shared their results with a PCP or with another health care provider, respectively. Reasons for not sharing results included that results were not important enough (40 percent) and lack of time (37 percent). Overall, 35 percent of those who discussed results with their PCP were very satisfied with the encounter and 18 percent were not at all satisfied. Themes identified in these encounters included actionability of the results or use in care, PCP engagement or interest, and lack of PCP engagement or interest (32, 25, and 22 percent, respectively).

"The proportion that shares results is expected to increase with time after testing as consumers find opportunities for discussion at later appointments or if results become relevant as medical needs evolve," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

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