Patient Reasons For Participating (or not) in Genetic Test

Medco just put out a study that I found very interesting since it shares data around patients opting-in to a genetic test around use of statins.

In the big picture, it showed that those got the genetic test were more adherent.  Perhaps this points to a better belief in the therapy post-genetic test (similar to the placebo effect).

But, what first grabbed my eye was data on the consumers:

• 53.8% participated in the study since they believed in the utility of genetic testing
• Only 6.7% of those that declined cited privacy issues
• Only 8.8% of those that declined cited anxiety about the results

This could be very promising for something that is complex but is certainly part of the future of medicine.