Exploring Genetic Literacy in a Small Hispanic Population.

Subasic, Kimberly; Kronk, Rebecca; Mantione, Andrea; Vital, Maria

Introduction: Genetic literacy recognizes one's ability to gather, understand, and apply genomic information to make informed health care choices and social decisions. A limited understanding of genomic literacy carries the potential for poor health outcomes. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the usefulness of an assessment tool to ascertain genetic literacy in a small Hispanic clinic population. Methodology: Mixed-method, cross-sectional pilot study requiring forward-back translation of an established questionnaire. Twenty Spanish-speaking adults were recruited through purposive and convenience sampling. Results: Forward-back translation provided a comparable questionnaire. Participants indicated information was relevant. Qualitative feedback uncovered regional differences. Quantitative results reported descriptive statistics, frequencies, and Cronbach alphas. Discussion: Findings from this study reveal the need for genetic literacy assessment tools that are attuned to the linguistic, ethnic, and cultural differences within the Hispanic population.