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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Christine Torres, Graduate School, Public Health Program, Univeristy of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, 860-679-4306, cwoolley@mph.uchc.edu, Anil Shah, Health Information Systems & Reporting, Planning Branch, Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06043, Barbara Dingfelder, APRN, CHES, MPH, Local Health Administration Branch, Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06043, and Carol L. Stone, PhD, MAS, MS, Family Health, Public Health Initiatives Branch, Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06043.

The Virtual Office of Genomics within the Connecticut Department of Public Health was recently established to implement objectives defined in a statewide Genomics Action Plan. One objective is to assess the statewide need for genetics awareness. To address this objective, the degree of public knowledge about the link between genetics and heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma was assessed from a state-specific BRFSS question issued to 3,004 state residents, July 1, 2004-December 31, 2004. “Most Likely” and “Somewhat Likely” responses were considered positive, and differences in the percent positive responses were evaluated among respondents' demographic characteristics. Overall, the percent of positive responses for the genetic link to heart disease (89.6%) was greater than that to cancer (85.7%), diabetes (85.6%), or asthma (74.9%). The percent positive responses to heart disease increased with education level (72.4%, and 94.6%, among those without a high school diploma, and with a post-high school degree, respectively), and was greater among White/non-Hispanic respondents than among minority respondents (91.6%, versus 83.0% among Black/non-Hispanics, 71.4% among Hispanics). The percent positive responses was greater among respondents aged 25-64 years (89.4% to 92.5%), than among respondents aged 18-24 years, and 65 years and older (84.7%, and 84.1%, respectively). The distribution of positive responses for diabetes, cancer, and asthma among each demographic variable did not differ significantly from that observed with heart disease. These data suggest that future efforts to increase genetics awareness could be focused on residents of minority races/ethnicities, and among the younger and older population. Supported by U50-CCU122448.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the extent of public knowledge about the link between genetics and disease in Connecticut.
• Understand how state-specific BRFSS questions can be used to evaluate genetics awareness.

Keywords: Genetics, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No