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Smokers’ Perceptions about Genetic Contributions to Smoking
Author(s) -
Houfek Julia F.,
Atwood Jan R.,
Barron Cecilia R.,
Dodendorf Diane M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2006.00272_5.x
Subject(s) - cotinine , confidentiality , genotyping , nicotine , distress , psychology , genetic predisposition , perception , medicine , clinical psychology , genotype , psychiatry , genetics , biology , gene , disease , pathology , neuroscience , political science , law
Identification of genes affecting smoking will likely lead to individualized treatment based on genotype. Use of genotypes will necessitate that smokers give informed consent, which requires an understanding of genetic contributions to smoking. Little is known about the effects of genetic information about smoking on smokers’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe smokers’ ( N = 8) perceptions of genetic contributions to smoking after participating in an education session about genes affecting dopamine transmission and nicotine metabolism. The session was part of a pilot study about the effects of genetic education on smoking behaviors. Data were obtained in audio‐taped interviews and analyzed with content analysis. Participants’ viewed genetics as a cause of smoking maintenance, but not initiation. They had greater interest in genotyping if they perceived they were genetically predisposed to smoking. Participants saw few drawbacks with genotyping, with privacy and confidentiality violations of most concern. When discussing genetic predisposition to lung cancer, participants indicated they would want to know their risk and minimized the potential for psychological distress. When compared to genetic information presented, they underestimated genetic contributions to smoking. All participants had a multifactorial perception of smoking that included personal, environmental, and genetic factors.