Cardiac genetic testing: a single-center pilot study of a Dominican population

Hisp Health Care Int. 2014;12(4):183-8. doi: 10.1891/1540-4153.12.4.183.

Abstract

The impact of undergoing genetic testing in a Dominican population is not well understood. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the psychological well-being and perceived cardiac risk among Dominicans who underwent genetic testing. Participants completed a qualitative interview and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire after cardiac genetic testing. There were 31 subjects evaluated (mean age 42 ± 11 years). Participants revealed three common themes: (a) fear of dying prematurely, (b) guilt of possibly passing on a mutation to their children, and (c) fear of having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shock. Physical components of the SF-36 were within normal limits (46.2 ± 6.6) but elevated for mental components (59.9 ± 5.3). The quality of life and specific themes results determined in this investigation warrant further research in the Dominican population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Attitude*
  • Black or African American*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable
  • Dominican Republic
  • Emotions*
  • Fear
  • Female
  • Genetic Testing*
  • Guilt
  • Health
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis
  • Heart Diseases / genetics
  • Heart Diseases / psychology*
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • New York
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quality of Life*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires