Hay JL, et al. - Authors evaluated the prevalence of interest in and uptake of MC1R testing for melanoma in the general population. They also examined the patterns across demographic and skin cancer risk factors. Moderately high levels of MC1R test interest and uptake were seen in this diverse sample. Given that genomic information becomes integrated into general population approaches to the precision prevention of skin cancer, it is justifiable to address potential barriers.

Methods

• Experts conducted a randomized clinical trial to examine interest in and uptake of MC1R testing among patients at University of New Mexico General Internal Medicine clinics.
• They randomized study participants to either a usual-care condition (National Cancer Institute skin cancer pamphlet for diverse skin types) or an MC1R test offer.
• The participants included in this study were registered clinic patients (≥6 months) and English or Spanish fluent.
• The present study included those 499 participants randomized to the MC1R test offer, out of the 600 participants recruited to the overall trial.
• Authors presented the participants with the option to log onto the study website to read 3 educational modules presenting the rationale, benefits, and drawbacks of MC1R testing.
• Website log on (yes vs no), saliva test kit request (yes vs no), and saliva test kit return for MC1R testing (yes vs no) were included in the main outcomes.
• They examined the demographic and skin cancer risk factors as potential predictors of test interest and uptake.

Results

• As per the data, out of the 499 participants (220 [44%] non-Hispanic white, 242 [48%] Hispanic, 396 [79%] female; mean [SD] age, 54 [14.3] years), 232 (46%) elected to learn about MC1R testing by logging onto the website; 204 (88%) of those who logged on decided to request testing; and 167 (82%) of those who requested testing returned the kit.
• Results demonstrated that race/ethnicity and education were the strongest predictors of website log on (non-Hispanic whites were more likely to log on [odds ratio for Hispanics vs non-Hispanic whites, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.7], as were more highly educated individuals [odds ratio for more than high school vs high school or less, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.7-4.3]).
• Sunburn history was the strongest predictor of ordering the test (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% CI, 2.3-12.9 vs no sunburn history).