Genetic Testing Preferences of Individuals in Families with Essential Tremor

Figures & Tables

Characteristic	Data
Age (years)	59.3±16.1
Gender
Male	46 (43.8)
Female	59 (56.2)
Religion
Catholic	28 (26.7)
Protestant	26 (24.8)
Jewish	15 (14.3)
Other	15 (14.3)
None	21 (20.0)
Education level
At least a bachelor’s degree	68 (64.7)
Less than a bachelor’s degree	37 (35.3)
Marital status
Married	70 (66.7)
Widowed	10 (9.5)
Divorced	14 (13.3)
Never married	11 (10.5)
Children
None	19 (18.1)
Yes (biological, step, and/or adopted)	86 (81.9)¹
Biological	83 (79)
Step	11 (10.5)
Adopted	9 (8.6)
Family history of ET
“I am the only person with essential tremor”	1 (1.0)
“Yes, myself and one other person”	3 (2.9)
“Yes myself and two or more people”	73 (69.5)
“Yes my family but not me”	28 (26.7)
Tremor duration (years)	30.5 ± 20.8
Form of ET treatment
“I do not treat it in any way”	42 (40.0)
“I take medication when needed”	5 (4.8)
“I take medication daily”	25 (23.8)
“I had surgery to treat it and take medication”	5 (4.8)
“I do not have ET” (unaffected relatives)	28 (26.7)

Abbreviation: ET, Essential Tremor.

All values are mean ± standard deviation or number (percentage).

1 Some individuals have more than one type (e.g., biological and adopted).

		Yes	No	Not Sure	p (Chi-Square Test)
Entire sample		90 (85.7)	2 (1.9)	13 (12.4)
Gender	Male	40 (87.0)	1 (2.2)	5 (4.8)	0.91¹
Gender	Female	50 (84.7)	1 (1.7)	8 (13.6)	0.91¹
Participant type	Proband	32 (94.1)	1 (2.9)	1 (2.9)	0.08² 0.04³
	Affected relative	38 (88.4)	0 (0.0)	5 (11.6)
	Unaffected relative	20 (71.4)	1 (3.6)	7 (25.0)

All values represent number (row percentage).

1 There was no difference between gender and desire for genetic testing.

2 Comparing probands, affected relatives, and unaffected relatives.

3 Comparing affected (probands + affected relatives) and unaffected relatives.

	Significance	Mean	Category
The results could improve your health or health care	0.000^*	1.67¹	1
Learn that changing your behavior could reduce symptoms	0.000^*	1.65¹	1
Learn if ET is caused by a specific gene	0.000^*	1.58¹	1
Determine if your children are at risk	0.000^*	1.54¹	1
Learn some of your genetic information	0.000^*	1.50¹	1
The test is highly accurate	0.000^*	1.43	2
Your treatment options for ET	0.000^*	1.39	4
The test is affordable	0.000^*	1.30	2
Having test results to share with your doctor	0.000^*	1.17	4
Your decision to opt for surgery to treat ET	0.000^*	0.58	4
An effect on your future plans	0.002	0.50	3
Your family’s reaction to genetic testing	0.000^*	0.44	3
Having your blood drawn for testing	0.000^*	0.35	4
Your decision about having children	0.000^*	0.25	3
Impact your career	0.042	0.23	2
Your religious, cultural, and/or spiritual beliefs	0.004	0.23	3
Your decision about marriage	0.000^*	0.20	3
Affect your insurance	0.411	–0.11²	2
Impact your privacy	0.054	–0.22²	2
The test is less accurate	0.000^*	–0.51²	2
The test is not affordable	0.000^*	–1.01²	2

Abbreviation: ET, Essential Tremor.

* Statistically significant, p < 0.0024.

1 Highest ranked positive effect factors.

2 Negative effect factors.

Predictor Factor	beta	p
Gender	0.182	0.78
Religion	0.000	1.00
Education	0.023	0.90
Marital status	0.941	0.20
Diagnostic status (affected vs. unaffected)	–1.386	0.023¹
Tremor duration	0.015	0.51
Biological children	–0.375	0.59
Age	0.010	0.65

1 Statistically significant.

These analyses utilized generalized estimating equations.