Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/195665

Title

Australian community responses to the use of genetic testing for personalised health promotion

Author(s)

Hardie, Elizabeth A.

Abstract

Personalised genetic health promotion may soon be available and affordable. To explore its likely public acceptance in Australia, a community sample (N = 800) provided quantitative and qualitative responses to a vignette scenario about a hypothetical expert who could test their genes and, based on this genetic profile, provide personalised health promotion advice. Three theoretical models were tested to explicate the process by which cognitive-affective factors of risk beliefs, benefit beliefs, and trust judgements influenced behavioural intentions. Results supported an expert trust model, where general beliefs about the risks and benefits of medical advances and general medical trust had indirect influences, while trust in a specific medical expert had a direct influence, on health promotion intentions. Subjective reasons for intentions included moral concerns, fear, trust, mistrust and a desire to maintain health at any cost. The advent of personalised genetic health promotion may heighten the need for specialised health psychologists.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Source

Australian Journal of Psychology, Vol. 63, no. 2 (Jun 2011), pp. 119-129

Publication year

2011

FOR Code(s)

1701 Psychology;  1702 Cognitive Sciences

Keyword(s)

Australia;  Behavioural intention;  Benefits;  Genetic testing;  Health promotion;  Health psychology;  Personalised approach;  Risks;  Trust

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

ISSN

0004-9530

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-9536.2011.00017.x

Copyright

Copyright © 2011 The Australian Psychological Society.

Peer reviewed