Awareness and Utilization of Genetic Testing among Hispanic/Latino Adults Living in the US: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Awareness, perceived utility and use of genetic testing among Hispanic/Latino adults living in the US. This study investigated awareness, perceived utility, and utilization of genetic testing among Hispanic and Latino individuals. The annual follow-up surveys for the Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) from 2019 to April 2020 assessed participants’ level of awareness and usage of genetic tests to determine disease risks, likelihood of passing disease to children, disease treatment or drug selection. They also were asked to rate the usefulness of these tests "for managing a person's health" on a 1 (“not at all useful”) to 10 ( “extremely useful”) scale. 5,769 HCHS/SOL participants completed at least one survey question. 55% of the target population was aware of at least one type of genetic test.

They investigated awareness, perceived utility, and utilization of genetic testing among Hispanic and Latino individuals. Annual follow-up surveys for the Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) from 2019 to April 2020 assessed participants’ level of awareness and usage of genetic tests to determine disease risks, likelihood of passing disease to children, disease treatment, or drug selection. They also were asked to rate the usefulness of the tests on a 1 (“not at all useful”) to 10 (“extremely useful”) scale.

Genetic testing is an emerging technology in the US, with rising rates of use across the population. We measured awareness, perceived utility, and utilization of genetic tests among Hispanic/Latinos living in the US. Annual follow-up surveys for the Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) from 2019 to April 2020 assessed awareness, usage and utility of genetic tests among Hispanics and Latinos living in the US. The findings have implications for health policy and research.