Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26979548›Full record

SynthesisBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2016

The impact of communicating genetic risks of disease on risk-reducing health behaviour: systematic review with meta-analysis.

Gareth J Hollands, David P French, Simon J Griffin, A Toby Prevost, Stephen Sutton, Sarah King, Theresa M Marteau

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 272 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
272citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04331535 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Polygenic Risk Scoring for Common Diseases in Primary Care

TypeinterventionalSponsorBoston VA Research Institute, Inc.Ran2020 to 2025Enrolled1,076ConditionsCoronary Artery Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, Type 2 Diabetes, Colorectal CancerArmsPolygenic risk score (PRS)
NCT05562440 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

The Perspective of Healthy Individuals on Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Report in The Indonesian Population (Perspektif Para Individu Sehat Terhadap Laporan Prediksi Risiko Kanker Payudara)

TypeinterventionalSponsorNalagenetics Pte LtdRan2022 to 2023Enrolled10ConditionsBreast CancerArmsFocus Group Discussion
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

272 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Systematic Review: The Psychosocial Impacts of Autism-Related Genetic Testing.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · 2026
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  9. Behavioral impact of return of genetic test results for complex disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2018
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212 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Gareth J HollandsBehaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
David P FrenchSchool of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Simon J GriffinDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
A Toby PrevostImperial Clinical Trials Unit, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Stephen SuttonDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Sarah KingBehaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Theresa M MarteauBehaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK tmm388@cam.ac.uk.

Funding

Medical Research Council G0500274Medical Research Council MC_U106179474Medical Research Council MC_UU_12015/4
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess the impact of communicating DNA based disease risk estimates on risk-reducing health behaviours and motivation to engage in such behaviours.

designSystematic review with meta-analysis, using Cochrane methods. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 25 February 2015. Backward and forward citation searches were also conducted. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials involving adults in which one group received personalised DNA based estimates of disease risk for conditions where risk could be reduced by behaviour change. Eligible studies included a measure of risk-reducing behaviour.

resultsWe examined 10,515 abstracts and included 18 studies that reported on seven behavioural outcomes, including smoking cessation (six studies; n=2663), diet (seven studies; n=1784), and physical activity (six studies; n=1704). Meta-analysis revealed no significant effects of communicating DNA based risk estimates on smoking cessation (odds ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.63 to 1.35, P=0.67), diet (standardised mean difference 0.12, 95% confidence interval -0.00 to 0.24, P=0.05), or physical activity (standardised mean difference -0.03, 95% confidence interval -0.13 to 0.08, P=0.62). There were also no effects on any other behaviours (alcohol use, medication use, sun protection behaviours, and attendance at screening or behavioural support programmes) or on motivation to change behaviour, and no adverse effects, such as depression and anxiety. Subgroup analyses provided no clear evidence that communication of a risk-conferring genotype affected behaviour more than communication of the absence of such a genotype. However, studies were predominantly at high or unclear risk of bias, and evidence was typically of low quality.

conclusionsExpectations that communicating DNA based risk estimates changes behaviour is not supported by existing evidence. These results do not support use of genetic testing or the search for risk-conferring gene variants for common complex diseases on the basis that they motivate risk-reducing behaviour. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This is a revised and updated version of a Cochrane review from 2010, adding 11 studies to the seven previously identified.

Indexed as

Health BehaviorRisk Reduction BehaviorGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenetic TestingHealth EducationHealth LiteracyHumansMotivationPatient Education as TopicPrimary PreventionRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID26979548
PMCPMC4793156

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.