Abstract

Predictive genetic testing for Huntington's disease (HD) and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) is a relatively new medical test. Research to date, has focused on: (1) the psychological impact of genetic testing, (2) disclosing of results, (3) the impact of genetic testing on HD families, and (4) individual's assessment of risk. The purpose of this study was to examine how individuals experience predictive genetic testing for HD and HBOC and what impact that experience has on individuals and family members. A grounded theory study design employing in-depth interviewing, theoretical sampling, and dimensional analysis was performed. Interviews with 29 participants were completed: 17 HBOC participants and 12 HD participants. The sample included individuals who tested: (1) negative for HD, (2) positive for HD, (3) positive for BRCA1/BRCA2 and (4) one participant from each group who decided against testing. Analysis revealed that individuals and their families are changed by predictive genetic testing.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3101451; ProQuest document ID: 305285011. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Rebekah J. Hamilton, PhD, RN, CNL

Sigma Membership

Delta Phi

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Grounded Theory

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Hereditary Cancers, Predictive Genetic Testing, Huntington's Disease

Advisor

Barbara Bowers

Second Advisor

Nadine Marks

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree Year

2003

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2022-08-04

Full Text of Presentation

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