Knowledge of genetic risk may not change behaviour

doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7293.0/f

Knowledge of genetic risk may not change behaviour

Genetic developments make it increasingly likely that people will be given DNA based information about their chances of developingcommon preventable diseases such as cancer and heart disease.Marteau and Lerman (p 1056) examine the assumption that tellingpeople about genetic risk will motivate them to change their behaviour.From the limited evidence available they conclude that peopleare not likely to change their behaviour in response to geneticrisk information and in some cases information may have the undesirableeffect of reducing the motivation tochange.