"I don't believe it." Acceptance and skepticism of genetic health information among African-American and White smokers

Social Science & Medicine
Erika A WatersSarah Gehlert

Abstract

Effective translation of genomics research into practice depends on public acceptance of genomics-related health information. To explore how smokers come to accept or reject information about the relationship between genetics and nicotine addiction. Thirteen focus groups (N = 84) were stratified by education (seven < Bachelor's degree, six ≥ Bachelor's degree) and race (eight black, five white). Participants viewed a 1-min video describing the discovery of a genetic variant associated with increased risk of nicotine addiction and lung cancer. Next, they provided their opinions about the information. Two coders analyzed the data using grounded theory. Pre-video knowledge about why people smoke cigarettes and what genetic risk means informed beliefs about the relationship between genes and addiction. These beliefs were not always consistent with biomedical explanations, but formed the context through which participants processed the video's information. This, in turn, led to information acceptance or skepticism. Participants explained their reactions in terms of the scientific merits of the research and used their existing knowledge and beliefs to explain their acceptance of or skepticism about the information. Laypeople hold com...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 1, 2018·Translational Behavioral Medicine·Alex T RamseyLaura J Bierut
Nov 17, 2020·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Susan PerskyBrittany M Hollister
Mar 27, 2020·Cancer Prevention Research·Alex T RamseyLaura J Bierut
Oct 14, 2020·Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : a Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·Erika A WatersLaura D Scherer

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