Interest in Genetic Counseling and Testing for Adolescent Nicotine Addiction Susceptibility among a Sample of Adolescent Medicine Providers Attending a Scientific Conference on Adolescent Health

Tercyak, Kenneth P.; Peshkin, Beth N.; Abraham, Anisha; Wine, Lauren; Walker, Leslie R.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.02.017

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 41, Issue 1 , Pages 42-50, July 2007

Interest in Genetic Counseling and Testing for Adolescent Nicotine Addiction Susceptibility among a Sample of Adolescent Medicine Providers Attending a Scientific Conference on Adolescent Health

Kenneth P. Tercyak, Ph.D.
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
- Address correspondence to: Dr. Kenneth P. Tercyak, Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3300 Whitehaven Street, N.W., Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20007.
Beth N. Peshkin, M.S., C.G.C.
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Anisha Abraham, M.D., M.P.H.
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Lauren Wine, B.A.
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Leslie R. Walker, M.D.
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC

Received 19 September 2006; accepted 28 February 2007.

Abstract

Purpose

Preventing adolescents from smoking and becoming addicted to nicotine is an important public health issue. New research on the genetics of susceptibility to nicotine addition is emerging and may eventually help to identify adolescents at high risk. Over time, genetic counseling and testing for nicotine addiction susceptibility may become incorporated into tobacco control practice, and providers in primary care settings are likely to be at the forefront of these services. As such, it is important to understand the attitudes and practices of adolescent medicine providers toward tobacco control and genetic testing to anticipate better the needs and interests of these individuals and prepare for the future. This study describes adolescent medicine providers’ interest, and correlates of their interest, in genetic counseling and testing for nicotine addiction susceptibility among their adolescent patients—a test that is not yet clinically available.

Methods

Adolescent medicine providers attending a national scientific conference (N = 232) completed a survey about their patient tobacco control and other screening behaviors, perceptions of their patients’ attitudes and beliefs toward tobacco control, and their own attitudes and beliefs about smoking and genetics.

Results

Providers who engaged in more regular tobacco screening behaviors with their adolescent patients (odds ratio [OR] = 4.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.20, 7.751, p = .00) and those who were more optimistic that biobehavioral research would lead to significant improvements in adolescent smoking prevention and treatment (OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.40, 4.37, p = .00), were more interested in counseling and testing.

Conclusions

In the future, adolescent wellness visits may present an opportunity to offer genetic counseling and testing for nicotine addiction susceptibility. Implementation at the provider level may depend on tobacco screening behavior and research optimism. Educating providers about safe and effective adolescent tobacco control strategies incorporating genetics will be essential.

Keywords: Adolescent smoking, Genetics, Continuing medical education