Family Physicians’ Beliefs about Genetic Contributions to Racial/Ethnic and Gender Differences in Health and Clinical Decision-Making

• Published in: Community genetics Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 352 - 358
• Main Authors: Warshauer-Baker, Esther, Bonham, Vence L., Jenkins, Jean, Stevens, Nancy, Page, Zintesia, Odunlami, Adebola, McBride, Colleen M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2008
• Subjects: Attitude; Cultural Diversity; Decision Making; Ethnicity; Female; Genetics, Population; Health Education - methods; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Original Paper; Patient Participation; Physicians, Family; Primary Health Care - methods; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 1422-2795; 1662-4246; 1422-2833; 1662-8063
• DOI: 10.1159/000133307

Greater attention towards genetics as a contributor to group health differences may lead to inappropriate use of race/ethnicity and gender as genetic heuristics and exacerbate health disparities. As part of a web-based survey, 1,035 family physicians (FPs) rated the contribution of genetics and environment to racial/ethnic and gender differences in health outcomes, and the importance of race/ethnicity and gender in their clinical decision-making. FPs attributed racial/ethnic and gender differences in health outcomes equally to environment and genetics. These beliefs were not associated with rated importance of race/ethnicity or gender in clinical decision-making. FPs appreciate the complexity of genetic and environmental influences on health differences by race/ethnicity and gender.