Peshkin and colleagues developed and tested the Pediatric BRCA1/2 Testing Attitudes Scale (P-TAS) to assess parental attitudes about and interest in testing their minor children for BRCA 1/2 mutations, which have been linked to breast and/or ovarian cancer risk. Item development was based on literature review and the research and counseling experiences of the authors. This 11-item instrument may be integrated into genetic counseling research or used to identify subgroups of parents who are highly motivated to have their children tested.
This sociological study is a prospective field research project on the development of the human genome initiative during the first half of the 1990's. The study is examining how the genomics community goes about trying to build a technological and social system capable of mapping and sequencing large genomes.
Dr. Asch will be conducting a prescriptive decision analysis for CF screening programs, which will use decision theory and economic techniques to model decision-making about CF carrier testing.
To complement his theoretical work, Dr. Asch will also be leading a project to assess the amount of information that couples desire about the risk of CF. The appropriate timing of CF carrier screening, as well as the amount that should be performed, will be investigated. The research team will analyze the decision-making processes of couples who are offered CF carrier testing one partner at a time. In the event of a negative result for the first partner, the team will determine whether or not the couple chooses to have the second partner tested.