Iskandar Hermanto, Cindy Kurniawati Chandra, Agustini Utari, Tri Indah Winarni, Ferdy Kurniawan Cayami
{"title":"Knowledge of genetics and attitudes toward genetic testing among university students in Indonesia.","authors":"Iskandar Hermanto, Cindy Kurniawati Chandra, Agustini Utari, Tri Indah Winarni, Ferdy Kurniawan Cayami","doi":"10.1007/s12687-024-00711-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development in human genetics must be tracked with the knowledge to provide support and positive attitudes towards genetic research and its healthcare applications, including genetic testing. Unfortunately, there has been a delay in enacting public policies related to the genetics professionals as well as the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of genetic diseases in Indonesia. This research was conducted to build an overview of genetic knowledge and public attitudes toward genetic testing among Indonesian undergraduates. This cross-sectional study involved undergraduate students selected using the convenience sampling method. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: a true/false questionnaire (16 statements) regarding knowledge of genetics and a 5-points Likert scale questionnaire (27 statements) pertaining to attitudes towards genetic testing. A total of 1596 undergraduate students completed online questionnaire. The highest knowledge score and the most positive overall attitudes were observed in the healthcare-related majors compared to those who studied science and technology and social and humanity. A weak positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude toward genetic testing (Pearson's r = 0.206, p < 0.001). Undergraduate students from healthcare-related majors displayed better in both knowledge of genetics and had more positive attitudes toward genetic testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":46965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Community Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"433-447"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11410749/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Community Genetics","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-024-00711-0","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/6/8 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The development in human genetics must be tracked with the knowledge to provide support and positive attitudes towards genetic research and its healthcare applications, including genetic testing. Unfortunately, there has been a delay in enacting public policies related to the genetics professionals as well as the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of genetic diseases in Indonesia. This research was conducted to build an overview of genetic knowledge and public attitudes toward genetic testing among Indonesian undergraduates. This cross-sectional study involved undergraduate students selected using the convenience sampling method. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: a true/false questionnaire (16 statements) regarding knowledge of genetics and a 5-points Likert scale questionnaire (27 statements) pertaining to attitudes towards genetic testing. A total of 1596 undergraduate students completed online questionnaire. The highest knowledge score and the most positive overall attitudes were observed in the healthcare-related majors compared to those who studied science and technology and social and humanity. A weak positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude toward genetic testing (Pearson's r = 0.206, p < 0.001). Undergraduate students from healthcare-related majors displayed better in both knowledge of genetics and had more positive attitudes toward genetic testing.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Community Genetics is an international forum for research in the ever-expanding field of community genetics, the art and science of applying medical genetics to human communities for the benefit of their individuals.
Community genetics comprises all activities which identify persons at increased genetic risk and has an interest in assessing this risk, in order to enable those at risk to make informed decisions. Community genetics services thus encompass such activities as genetic screening, registration of genetic conditions in the population, routine preconceptional and prenatal genetic consultations, public education on genetic issues, and public debate on related ethical issues.
The Journal of Community Genetics has a multidisciplinary scope. It covers medical genetics, epidemiology, genetics in primary care, public health aspects of genetics, and ethical, legal, social and economic issues. Its intention is to serve as a forum for community genetics worldwide, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.
The journal features original research papers, reviews, short communications, program reports, news, and correspondence. Program reports describe illustrative projects in the field of community genetics, e.g., design and progress of an educational program or the protocol and achievement of a gene bank. Case reports describing individual patients are not accepted.