AIMS: Emerging research may soon lead to improved quit rates via genetically-tailored smoking cessation treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore individuals' beliefs and attitudes about genetic testing in this context, and how these may differ across racial groups. DESIGN: Two site qualitative study. METHODS: Eleven focus groups were conducted in 2007 with 51 Black and 55 White adult @entity1 in Montgomery, AL and Baltimore, @entity601 . MEASUREMENTS: Questions were asked about smoking as an addiction, the role of genetics in @entity1239 addiction susceptibility, and undergoing genetic testing to receive tailored smoking cessation treatment. Data were analyzed using content analysis. FINDINGS: Most @entity1 believed that smoking was an addiction yet were unwilling to endorse the notion that genetics played a role in @entity1239 addiction susceptibility. However, 91% of White @entity1 and 62% of Black @entity1 indicated that they would likely take a genetic test that would match them to their optimal smoking cessation treatment. The primary potential benefit was a vague sense that additional knowledge about oneself would be of value. Primary barriers included disinterest and skepticism about the test, unwillingness to believe that genetics played a role in @entity1239 addiction or treatment response, and concerns about psychological consequences. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of @entity1 , particularly Black @entity1 , did not believe that genetics played a significant role in @entity1239 addiction susceptibility but were willing to undergo genetic testing. @entity1 identified some benefit to tailoring smoking treatment by genotype. However, @entity1 also expressed skepticism about the test and concerns about its consequences; these issues would need to be addressed in the clinical encounter.

Black and White adults' perspectives on the genetics of XXXX addiction susceptibility.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'Participants'] @entity1239 :: ('MESH:D009538', 'Chemical') :: ['nicotine'] @entity601 :: ('MESH:D009436', 'Disease') :: ['MD']
@entity1239 :: (MESH:D009538,Chemical) :: ['nicotine']
