Abstract
This study aimed to explore the knowledge, factors affecting knowledge, and views of the Jordanian population on genetics-related issues. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in Jordan. The questionnaire was administered by face-to-face interview to the participants who were recruited from different public places. In total, 5000 questionnaires were collected from public population in Jordan and 43.4% (2171/5000) of them were knowledgeable. The public’s knowledge was found to be associated with female gender (OR = 1.493, 95% CI = 1.280–1.741, p < 0.001), bachelor degree (OR = 1.853, 95% CI = 1.592–2.157, p < 0.001), having children (OR = 1.433, 95% CI = 1.162–1.768, p = 0.001), and having first-degree relatives with comorbid conditions (OR = 1.669, 95% CI = 1.431–1.946, p < 0.001). Although public in Jordan had positive genetic attitudes, they raised several concerns about the applications of genetics in clinical practice. Genetic knowledge was significantly associated with all positive public attitudes and most of their concerns (p < 0.001). These findings suggested that female gender, educational level, having children, and having first-degree relatives with comorbid conditions were good predictors for public’s knowledge about genetics-related issues. Public education about the value of participation in genetic research as well as educational and training programs for healthcare professionals are recommended to assist in establishing genetics-related services in Jordan.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Shanti H, Chouchane L, Badii R, Gallouzi IE, Gasparini P. Genetic testing and genomic analysis: a debate on ethical, social and legal issues in the Arab world with a focus on Qatar. J Transl Med. 2015;13:1.
Al-Gazali L, Hamamy H, Al-Arrayad S. Genetic disorders in the Arab world. Brit Med J. 2006;333:831–4.
Etchegary H, Cappelli M, Potter B, Vloet M, Graham I, Walker M, et al. Attitude and knowledge about genetics and genetic testing. Public Health Genomics. 2009;13:80–8.
Condit CM. Public attitudes and beliefs about genetics. Annu Rev Genom Hum Genet. 2010;11:339–59.
Kerath SM, Klein G, Kern M, Shapira I, Witthuhn J, Norohna N, et al. Beliefs and attitudes towards participating in genetic research–a population based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:1.
Henneman L, Vermeulen E, van El CG, Claassen L, Timmermans DR, Cornel MC. Public attitudes towards genetic testing revisited: comparing opinions between 2002 and 2010. Eur J Hum Genet. 2013;21:793–9.
Ahram M, Othman A, Shahrouri M. Public perception towards biobanking in jordan. Biopreserv Biobanking. 2012;10:361–5.
Nielsen LF, Moldrup C. The diffusion of innovation: factors influencing the uptake of pharmacogenetics. Community Genet. 2007;10:231–41.
Haga SB, Barry WT, Mills R, Ginsburg GS, Svetkey L, Sullivan J, et al. Public knowledge of and attitudes toward genetics and genetic testing. Genet Test Mol Biomark. 2013;17:327–35.
Vassy JL, Donelan K, Hivert MF, Green RC, Grant RW. Genetic susceptibility testing for chronic disease and intention for behavior change in healthy young adults. J Community Genet. 2013;4:263–71.
Ajlouni K, Khader YS, Batieha A, Ajlouni H, El-Khateeb M. An increase in prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Jordan over 10 years. J Diabetes Complicat. 2008;22:317–24.
WORLDHEALTHRANKINGS. JORDAN: CORONARY HEART DISEASE. https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/jordan-coronary-heart-disease. Accessed Feb 2019.
Cummings SR, Kohn MA, Hulley SB. Designing questionnaires, interviews, and online surveys. In: Rebecca Gaertner. Designing clinical research, 4th edn. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, USA, 2013, pp 223–37.
IndexMundi. Jordan Demographics Profile 2018. https://www.indexmundi.com/jordan/demographics_profile.html. Accessed Aug 2019.
Morren M, Rijken M, Baanders AN, Bensing J. Perceived genetic knowledge, attitudes towards genetic testing, and the relationship between these among patients with a chronic disease. Patient Educ Couns. 2007;65:197–204.
Olwi D, Merdad L, Ramadan E. Knowledge of genetics and attitudes toward genetic testing among college students in Saudi Arabia. Public Health Genomics. 2016;19:260–8.
Henneman L, Timmermans DR, van der Wal G. Public experiences, knowledge and expectations about medical genetics and the use of genetic information. Community Genet. 2004;7:33–43.
Calsbeek H, Morren M, Bensing J, Rijken M. Knowledge and attitudes towards genetic testing: a two year follow-up study in patients with asthma, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. J Genet Couns. 2007;16:493–504.
Carver RB, Castera J, Gericke N, Evangelista NA, El-Hani CN. Young adults’ belief in genetic determinism, and knowledge and attitudes towards modern genetics and genomics: The PUGGS Questionnaire. PLoS ONE. 2017;12:e0169808.
Haga SB, O’Daniel JM, Tindall GM, Lipkus IR, Agans R. Survey of US public attitudes toward pharmacogenetic testing. Pharmacogenomics J. 2012;12:197–204.
Daud ANA, Bergsma EL, Bergman JEH, De Walle HEK, Kerstjens-Frederikse WS, Bijker BJ, et al. Knowledge and attitude regarding pharmacogenetics among formerly pregnant women in the Netherlands and their interest in pharmacogenetic research. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17:120.
Lee IH, Kang HY, Suh HS, Lee S, Oh ES, Jeong H. Awareness and attitude of the public toward personalized medicine in Korea. PLoS ONE. 2018;13:e0192856.
Ahram M, Soubani M, Abu Salem L, Saker H, Ahmad M. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding genetic testing and genetic counselors in jordan: a population-based survey. J Genet Couns. 2015;24:1001–10.
Islam MM, Ababneh FM, Khan MHR. Consanguineous marriage in Jordan: an update. J Biosoc Sci. 2018;50:573–8.
Oliveri S, Masiero M, Arnaboldi P, Cutica I, Fioretti C, Pravettoni G. Health orientation, knowledge, and attitudes toward genetic testing and personalized genomic services: preliminary data from an italian sample. Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:6824581.
Allum N, Sturgis P, Tabourazi D, Brunton-Smith I. Science knowledge and attitudes across cultures: a meta-analysis. Public Understand Sci. 2008;17:20.
Nicholls SG, Wilson BJ, Craigie SM, Etchegary H, Castle D, Carroll JC, et al. Public attitudes towards genomic risk profiling as a component of routine population screening. Genome. 2013;56:626–33.
Diaz VA, Mainous AG 3rd, Gavin JK, Wilson D. Racial differences in attitudes toward personalized medicine. Public Health Genom. 2014;17:1–6.
Wilde A, Meiser B, Mitchell PB, Schofield PR. Public interest in predictive genetic testing, including direct-to-consumer testing, for susceptibility to major depression: preliminary findings. Eur J Hum Genet. 2010;18:47–51.
Etchegary H, Green J, Dicks E, Pullman D, Street C, Parfrey P. Consulting the community: public expectations and attitudes about genetics research. Eur J Hum Genet. 2013;21:1338–43.
Etchegary H. Public attitudes toward genetic risk testing and its role in healthcare. Per Med. 2014;11:509–22.
Haga SB, Burke W. Pharmacogenetic testing: not as simple as it seems. Genet Med. 2008;10:391–5.
Dawson E. Reimagining publics and (non) participation: exploring exclusion from science communication through the experiences of low-income, minority ethnic groups. Public Underst Sci. 2018;27:772–86.
Al-Sawalha NA, Sawalha A, Tahaineh L, Almomani B, Al-Keilani M. Healthcare providers’ attitude and knowledge regarding medication use in breastfeeding women: a Jordanian national questionnaire study. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2018;38:217–21.
Nuseir K, Kassab M, Almomani B. Healthcare providers’ knowledge and current practice of pain assessment and management: how much progress have we made? Pain Res Manag. 2016;2016:8432973.
Funding
This study was supported by a grant (reference number 156/2017) from Deanship of Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Almomani, B.A., Al-Keilani, M.S. & Al-Sawalha, N.A. Knowledge and views about genetics: a public-based cross-sectional study. Eur J Hum Genet 28, 417–423 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-019-0532-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-019-0532-0
This article is cited by
-
Genetic counseling in the Middle East: provider perspectives of patient attitudes and cultural challenges
Human Genomics (2025)
-
Nationwide survey on awareness of consanguinity and genetic diseases in Saudi Arabia: challenges and potential solutions to reduce the national healthcare burden
Human Genomics (2024)
-
Publics’ knowledge of, attitude to and motivation towards health-related genomics: a scoping review
European Journal of Human Genetics (2024)
-
Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the multi-ethnic population of the United Arab Emirates on genomic medicine and genetic testing
Human Genomics (2023)
-
Student Primary Teachers’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Biotechnology—Are They Prepared to Teach Biotechnological Literacy?
Journal of Science Education and Technology (2022)
