Abstract
Genetic testing aids patients in making important decisions in the prevention, treatment, or early detection of hereditary disorders. Low awareness of the importance of genetic testing contributes to the increase in the incidence of hereditary disorders. This study aims to explore the knowledge, awareness, and perception of genetic testing for hereditary disorders among local residents of the Klang Valley, Malaysia, and the potential variables that influence their understanding of genetic testing. A survey was conducted in different municipalities of the Klang Valley through self-administered questionnaire assessing the public's knowledge, awareness, and perception of genetic testing. Overall, the results revealed adequate knowledge and positive awareness of genetic testing, in which both were influenced by the respondent's educational level (P < 0.001), field of study (P < 0.001), and status of heard or unheard of genetic testing (P < 0.001). The perception of genetic testing was generally positive and influenced by the respondent's differences in age (P < 0.016), educational level (P < 0.001), field of study (P < 0.001), and status of heard or unheard of genetic testing (P < 0.001). Although positive responses were obtained, ~20.2% of the respondents had never heard of genetic testing. Of the respondents, 24.5% were unwilling to undergo genetic testing, with 25.1% believing that genetic testing tampers with nature and 18% believing that it opposes religion and their beliefs. Such attitude calls for the need to conduct programs to eliminate any misconception, as well as to educate the public to lessen any perceived misunderstanding of the concepts of genetic testing.
Highlights
Genetic disorder is a health condition that is inherited by a person, usually caused by mutations in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or changes in the number or overall structure of chromosomes (Odelola et al, 2013)
Study Design and Study Population. This is a cross-sectional study conducted between September 2018 and November 2018, using convenient sampling targeting the local residents of the Klang Valley, including districts, such as Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Ampang, Putrajaya, Kajang, Petaling, Cheras, and Kuala Lumpur
This study shows that many of the respondents have adequate knowledge of genetic testing
Summary
Genetic disorder is a health condition that is inherited by a person, usually caused by mutations in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or changes in the number or overall structure of chromosomes (Odelola et al, 2013). Malaysian’s KAP on Genetic Testing components (Lu et al, 2014; Stanislaw et al, 2016). These include breast cancer (Miki et al, 1994; Edwards et al, 2003; McPherson, 2006) and colorectal cancer (Hampel, 2009; Jasperson et al, 2010; Stanislaw et al, 2016). Blood-related disorders, such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and hemophilia, are hereditary diseases. These diseases are acquired by inheriting abnormal genes, such as hemoglobin C gene
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