Predictive genetic testing for breast cancer and Huntington's disease: the opinions of midwives and nurses in Flanders.

Objective: Investigate attitudes of midwives and nurses regarding predictive testing for hereditary breast cancer and Huntington's disease.

Methods: Mail questionnaires were sent to 119 midwives and 881 nurses.

Results: The response rate was 58% for midwives, but only 33% for nurses. The attitude toward predictive testing in an asymptomatic adult was more favourable in case of hereditary breast cancer than in case of Huntington's disease, mostly because prevention or therapy is unavailable for the latter condition. Prevention of breast cancer through prophylactic mastectomy elicited adverse reactions among 40% of the participants. Predictive testing for these diseases in an adolescent at the own request was also rated favourably while testing in children at the parents' request was less acceptable. For both diseases, concealing carrier status information from the employer or the insurance company was judged as acceptable by the majority.

Conclusion: Our findings contribute to the understanding of nurses' and especially midwives' attitudes to predictive testing, which may in turn serve as a basis for genetic education for these groups of health care professionals.