Knowledge, Attitudes, Willingness to Pay, and Patient Preferences About Genetic Testing and Subsequent Risk Management for Cancer Prevention.

Knowledge, attitudes, and patient preferences about genetic testing and subsequent risk management for cancer prevention among average risk populations are understudied, especially among Hispanics. This study was to assess these items by conducting an in-person survey in this understudied population. We conducted in-person surveys using a self-administered, structured questionnaire among young women in 2017. Survey questions were adapted from other validated surveys. This study had 677 participants in the final analyses. Data were collected in 2017 and analyzed in 2018 and 2019. Participants had little knowledge about genes or breast cancer risk, but most felt that genetic testing for cancer prevention is "a good idea" (87.0%), "a reassuring idea" (84.0%), and that "everyone should get the test" (87.7%). Most (64.0%) of these women would pay up to $25 for the test, 29.3% would pay $25-$500, and < 10% would pay more than $500 for the test. When asked about a hypothetical scenario of high breast cancer risk, 34.2% Hispanics and 24.5% non-Hispanics would choose chemoprevention. Women would be less likely to choose risk reduction procedures, such as mastectomy (19.6% among Hispanics and 15.1% among non-Hispanics) and salpingo-oophorectomy (11.8% among Hispanics and 10.7% among non-Hispanics). In this low-income, mostly Hispanic population, knowledge about genetic testing and cancer risk is poor, but most have positive opinions about genetic testing for cancer prevention. However, their strong preference for chemoprevention and lesser preference for prophylactic surgeries in a hypothetical scenario underscore the importance of genetic counseling and education.

Prenatal vaccination of mothers and hepatitis B vaccination of their infants.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination and influenza vaccination are recommended during pregnancy primarily to prevent influenza and pertussis in mothers and their infants. This study examines associations between prenatal Tdap vaccination and influenza vaccination of mothers and hepatitis B vaccination of their infants. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from electronic medical records from 15,468 deliveries to 14,925 mothers occurring April 2, 2014-December 3, 2016 at a university hospital in Texas. Hepatitis B vaccine receipt in the first 3 days of life was dichotomized. Margins post-estimation commands in Stata SE 15.1 were used to obtain predicted probabilities and risk differences after estimating odds ratios in logistic regression with robust variance estimates. Adjusted models included maternal age, race/ethnicity, Medicaid use, year of delivery, parity, and gravidity. Infants of mothers who received prenatal influenza vaccination in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 influenza seasons were more likely than those of mothers who did not to receive a hepatitis B vaccine in their first 3 days of life (adjusted risk difference (RD) 2.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-4.1% and RD 2.2%, 95% CI 0.9-3.5%, respectively). Hepatitis B vaccination was also higher among infants of Tdap-eligible mothers who received prenatal Tdap vaccination during pregnancy compared to those of mothers who did not (adjusted RD 9.1%, 95% CI 7.6-10.5%). Overall, prenatal vaccination was significantly associated with uptake of infant hepatitis B vaccine.

Variations in reason for intention not to vaccinate across time, region, and by race/ethnicity, NIS-Teen (2008-2016).

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is expected to reduce HPV-related disease and cancer in the US. However, many parents are hesitant to obtain the vaccine for their children. The purpose of this study is to examine how the reasons for refusing the HPV vaccine vary across regions of the US, across time, and by race/ethnicity. METHODS: This study used data on 13-17 year old adolescents collected by the National Immunization Survey - Teen (NIS-Teen) annually between 2008 and 2016. We evaluated the frequencies of parents who did not intend to vaccinate their children in the next year among unvaccinated children. Among these non-intenders, we evaluated how reasons for HPV vaccine hesitancy changed across time, by region of the US, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: The proportion of non-intenders among unvaccinated decreased from 72% in 2010 to 58% in 2016. The most frequent reason for vaccine hesitancy was that parents felt HPV vaccination was not necessary (22.4%), followed by lack of provider recommendation (16.2%), and lack of knowledge (15.6%). Lack of provider recommendation increased in frequency as a reason for HPV vaccine hesitancy until 2012, then decreased in frequency through 2016. Cost was one reason that was elevated in all regions compared to the Northeast. Black non-intenders were less likely to report safety, costs, or their children's fear as reasons for not intending to vaccinate their children compared to white non-intenders. Hispanic non-intenders were more likely to report lack of knowledge and that the vaccine is not a school requirement as reasons not to vaccinate their children compared to white non-intenders. CONCLUSIONS: National advocacy for improving provider recommendation for HPV vaccination likely contributed to a sharp decline in HPV vaccine hesitancy due to lack of provider recommendation. Results indicate the need for multifaceted interventions to increase HPV vaccination.