Knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy toward cancer genetic testing among Black women with and without breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge and attitudes regarding cancer genetic testing among Black women with and without breast cancer and to identify individual-level predictors of these outcomes. METHODS: Participants were 927 women who completed a questionnaire about personal and family history of cancer; prior hereditary cancer genetic testing; and cancer genetics knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Linear regression was used to examine predictors of cancer genetics knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. RESULTS: Knowledge scores did not differ between women who had a history of breast cancer (mean, 12.5/16; SD 2.4) and those who did not (mean, 12.3; SD, 2.4). The majority of women answered most questions correctly; however, incorrect responses were common for questions about inherited cancer etiology (34% answered incorrectly), test limitations (44%), and clinical implications of a variant of uncertain significance (71%). Personal breast cancer history was associated with more favorable attitudes but not self-efficacy. Significant predictors of knowledge, attitudes, or self-efficacy included age, educational attainment, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: Overall knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding cancer genetic testing were high among U.S. Black women regardless of prior breast cancer, though educational gaps remain.