Several studies of good quality demonstrated changes in lifestyle habits arising from the provision of genetic interventions .
The most promising lifestyle changes were changes in nutrition .
Conclusions : It is possible to facilitate behaviour change using genetic testing as the catalyst .
Background : Study ing the impact of  genetic testing interventions on lifestyle behaviour change  has been a priority area of research in recent years .
Substantial heterogeneity exists in the results and conclusions of this literature , which has yet to be explained using vali date d behaviour change theory and an assessment of the quality of genetic interventions .
The theory of planned behaviour ( TPB ) helps to explain key contributors to behaviour change .
It has been hypothesized that personalization could be added to this theory to help predict changes in health behaviours .
Purpose : This systematic review provides a detailed , comprehensive identification , assessment , and summary of primary research articles pertaining to  lifestyle behaviour change  ( nutrition , physical activity , sleep , and smoking ) result ing from  genetic testing interventions .
The present review further aims to provide in-depth analyses of studies conducted to date within the context of the TPB and the quality of genetic interventions provided to participants while aim ing to determine whether or not genetic testing facilitates changes in lifestyle habits .
This review is timely in light of a recently published “ call-to-action ” paper , highlighting the need to incorporate the TPB into personalized healthcare behaviour change research .
Psychological impact of genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia within a previously aware population: A randomized controlled trial
This trial tests the hypothesis that confirming a clinical diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia ( FH ) by finding a genetic mutation reduces patients ' perceptions of control over the disease and adherence to risk‐reducing behaviors . Three hundred forty‐one families , comprising 341 hypercholesterolemia prob and s and 128 adult relatives , were r and omized to one of two groups : ( a ) routine clinical diagnosis ; ( b ) routine clinical diagnosis plus genetic testing ( mutation search ing in prob and s and direct gene testing in relatives ) . The main outcome measures were perceptions of control over hypercholesterolemia , adherence to cholesterol‐lowering medication , diet , physical activity , and smoking .  There was no support for the main hypothesis : finding a mutation had no impact on perceived control or adherence to risk‐reducing behavior ( all P‐values > 0.10 ) . While all groups believed that lowering cholesterol was an effective way of reducing the risk of a heart attack , participants in whom a mutation was found believed less strongly in the efficacy of diet in reducing their cholesterol level ( P = 0.02 at 6 months ) and showed a trend in believing more strongly in the efficacy of cholesterol‐lowering medication ( P = 0.06 at 6 months ) . In conclusion , finding a mutation to confirm a clinical diagnosis of FH in a previously aware population does not reduce perceptions of control or adherence to risk‐reducing behaviors . The pattern of findings leads to the new hypothesis that genetic testing does not affect the extent to which people feel they have control over a condition , but does affect their perceptions of how control is most effectively achieved . Further work is needed to determine whether similar results will be obtained in population s with little previous awareness of their risks . © 2004 Wiley‐Liss ,
Several studies of good quality demonstrated changes in lifestyle habits arising from the provision of genetic interventions .
The most promising lifestyle changes were changes in nutrition .
Conclusions : It is possible to facilitate behaviour change using genetic testing as the catalyst .
Background : Study ing the impact of  genetic testing interventions on lifestyle behaviour change  has been a priority area of research in recent years .
Substantial heterogeneity exists in the results and conclusions of this literature , which has yet to be explained using vali date d behaviour change theory and an assessment of the quality of genetic interventions .
The theory of planned behaviour ( TPB ) helps to explain key contributors to behaviour change .
It has been hypothesized that personalization could be added to this theory to help predict changes in health behaviours .
Purpose : This systematic review provides a detailed , comprehensive identification , assessment , and summary of primary research articles pertaining to  lifestyle behaviour change  ( nutrition , physical activity , sleep , and smoking ) result ing from  genetic testing interventions .
The present review further aims to provide in-depth analyses of studies conducted to date within the context of the TPB and the quality of genetic interventions provided to participants while aim ing to determine whether or not genetic testing facilitates changes in lifestyle habits .
This review is timely in light of a recently published “ call-to-action ” paper , highlighting the need to incorporate the TPB into personalized healthcare behaviour change research .