Lay Understanding of Race, Addiction and Genetics

描述（由申请人提供）：目前正在进行的研究旨在加深我们对遗传因素在物质依赖和治疗反应中的作用的理解。为了实现新兴研究的潜在好处，至关重要的是开始了解不同种族/民族群体的成员如何理解、解释和回应有关成瘾和治疗反应中遗传学作用的信息，特别是在假设增加成瘾易感性或影响治疗反应的等位基因频率方面报道的种族差异。我们使用尼古丁成瘾的遗传学数据和对治疗的反应来探索这些问题。具体目标是：(1)探索种族差异（自我认同的黑人与白人）在信仰和理解上对遗传在成瘾中的作用；(2)探讨种族差异（自我认同的黑人与白人）对使用基因检测改善成瘾治疗的态度；(3)评估在这种情况下，当个人被告知最有可能用于定制成瘾个体治疗的基因型的关键特征（例如，风险等位基因频率的种族差异，多效性关联）时，他们对使用基因检测的态度在多大程度上发生了变化，正如最新科学文献所报道的那样；(4)在美国自认为是黑人和白人吸烟者的一个子集中，评估个体接受基因检测的意图/意愿，以便与最佳吸烟治疗相匹配。这项研究包括广泛的定性研究和对1200名自认为是黑人和1200名白人的随机全国电话采访调查。将采用焦点小组、个人访谈、认知访谈、专家审查、两轮预测试和一项试点调查（N=100）来制定有效和适当的调查工具。拟议中的研究将首次检验不同的外行受众如何理解、解释和回应新兴的成瘾基因研究和潜在的临床应用。这些信息对于建设性地让更广泛的公众参与正在进行和未来关于将新兴药物遗传干预措施纳入临床实践的辩论，以及制定文化上适当的知情同意程序、干预措施和教育活动至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research is currently underway that seeks to deepen our understanding of the role of genetic factors in substance dependence and response to treatment. In order for the potential benefits of emerging research to be realized, it is crucial to begin understanding how members of different racial/ethnic groups comprehend, interpret and respond to information about the role of genetics in addiction and treatment response, and in particular to reported racial differences in the frequency of alleles hypothesized to increase susceptibility to addiction or affect response to treatment. We use data on the genetics of nicotine addiction and response to treatment to explore these issues. Specific aims are: (1) To explore racial differences (self-identified Black versus white) in beliefs and understandings regarding the role of genetics in addiction; (2) To explore racial differences (self-identified Black vs. white) in attitudes toward the use of genetic testing to improve treatment for addiction; (3) To assess the extent to which individuals' attitudes toward the use of genetic testing in this context change when they are informed of key characteristics of the genotypes that would most likely be used to tailor individual treatment for addiction (e.g., racial differences in the frequency of risk alleles, pleiotropic associations), as reported in the most current scientific literature; (4) Among a subset of self-identified Black and white smokers in the U.S., to assess individuals' intention/willingness to undergo genetic testing in order to be matched to optimal smoking treatment. This study includes extensive qualitative research and a randomized national telephone interview survey of 1200 self-identified Black and 1200 white adults. Focus groups, personal interviews, cognitive interviews, expert review, two rounds of pre-testing, and a pilot survey (N=100) will be used to develop an effective and appropriate survey instrument. The proposed research will be the first to examine how diverse lay audiences understand, interpret and respond to emerging genetic research on addiction and potential clinical applications. Such information is essential to constructively engage the broader public in ongoing and future debates about the integration of emerging pharmacogenetic interventions into clinical practice, and to developing culturally appropriate informed consent processes, interventions and educational activities.